Oh Hyung-yup, head of the organizing committee of this year's Seoul International Writers' Festival, speaks during a press conference for the upcoming festival in central Seoul, Monday. Yonhap By Park Han-sol An official poster for the 13th edition of the Seoul International Writers' Festival, scheduled to run from Sept. 6 to 11 / Courtesy of LTI Korea This year’s Seoul International Writers’ Festival (SIWF), running from Sept.
6 to 11, invites the audience to explore the interplay of contradictions and dualities through the world of literature. Its theme, “Particles & Waves,” draws inspiration from the dual nature of light in physics, where it behaves both as particles and waves. “Like light, literature too navigates the coexistence of seemingly opposing forces — its political and ethical responsibilities alongside its aesthetic qualities.
Though these aspects may appear contradictory, they are intertwined in a dynamic relationship [that deepens meaning and understanding in each work,]” said Oh Hyung-yup, head of the festival’s organizing committee and a professor of Korean language and literature at Korea University, during a press conference in Seoul, Monday. “The theme also emphasizes the power of the minuscule. Just as a single photon can produce significant effects when it interacts as a wave, specific events within a story can resonate with profoundly universal truths and themes.
” Hosted by the Literature Translation Institute of Korea , the 13th iteration of the SIWF will bring together 24 acclaimed writers from 11 countries at the JCC Art Center in central Seoul. The festival is set to kick off on Sept. 6 with keynote speeches from two literary luminaries: Chung Bora, whose short story collection “Cursed Bunny” was shortlisted for both the 2022 International Booker Prize and the 2023 National Book Award, and Claudia Pineiro, the renowned Argentine writer and playwright known for titles such as “Elena Knows” and “A Little Luck.
” Authors Chung Bora, left, and Claudia Pineiro / Courtesy of HyeYoung, Alejandra Lopez Unfolding throughout the six days are “One on One” and “Writers on Conversation” sessions on a wide array of topics — from the power of literature in confronting the history of violence to the subtle power of humor and the multifaceted nature of love. Among the international panelists are Michelle Zauner , the writer and singer-songwriter behind the soul-stirring New York Times bestseller “Crying in H Mart”; Fredrik Backman, the Swedish novelist who penned beloved titles like “A Man Called Ove” and “Us Against You”; and Kevin Chen, whose first international publication “Ghost Town” was longlisted for the 2023 PEN Translation Prize. A string of interactive programs will also grace the festival to expand the boundaries of how literature is experienced.
These include an exhibition that transforms the works of participating authors into immersive media art and genre-crossing recitals where select novels and poems will be brought to life through collaborative performances with their original authors, singers and musical actors. For more details on the SIWF, visit the event’s official website or its Instagram ( @siwf_insta ). All programs are free to attend with online pre-booking, and key on-site events will be streamed live as well.
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