Major Literary Events Unite in Korea: "Korea Literature Festival" Opens
The "2026 Korea Literature Festival," which brings together major literary events in Korea such as the "Seoul International Writers’ Festival," "Literature Week," and the "World Korean Writers' Congress," will be held from September 11 to 20 at Daehak-ro in Seoul and across the country.
On September 10, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced that it will co-host the "2026 Korea Literature Festival" in conjunction with the Literature Translation Institute of Korea, Arts Council Korea, Publication Industry Promotion Agency of Korea, National Museum of Korean Literature, and PEN International Korea Center.
Marking its second edition this year, the Korea Literature Festival was established to promote the social solidarity and emotional healing value of literature, and to foster a literary ecosystem where writers, readers, and local communities come together. Actress Ko Asung has been appointed as the festival’s ambassador.
During the festival period, in addition to the main literary events, there will be author events for books selected in the "Literature Sharing" initiative and a variety of programs organized by the National Museum of Korean Literature as well as local literature museums, bookstores, and libraries across the country.
The "Seoul International Writers’ Festival" will kick off on September 11 at Ara Art Center in Insa-dong, Seoul, featuring a conversation between novelist Kim Aeran and Chilean author Benjamín Labatut. Labatut was a finalist for the 2021 Booker Prize International with "When We Cease to Understand the World."
Ten international writers from eight countries, including Damon Galgut and Keiichiro Hirano, will participate. Writers in various genres — novels, poetry, picture books, and graphic novels — from Korea and abroad will discuss their literary worlds under this year’s theme, "Who Are You?" There will also be sessions exploring the meaning of literary exchange between writers and translators.
"Literature Week" will begin on September 16 at Arko Arts Theater with a reading performance led by Ko Asung. Poets Lee Minha, Kim Jinsun, Hong Jiho, and musician Kwak Joona will join to honor the late poet Heo Sugyeong.
This year’s Literature Week, themed "A Sideways Glance," will feature 167 participants including writers such as Kim Aeran and Choi Jinyoung. A total of 48 programs will take place throughout Marronnier Park and the Arko Space area in Daehak-ro.
The "World Korean Writers' Congress" will open on September 15 at Sejong University. Korean American author Kim Juhye, recipient of the Tolstoy Literature Prize, and Kim Jinmyung, author of "The Rose of Sharon Has Bloomed," will deliver keynote speeches and participate in discussions on the theme of Korean literature written in Hangul.
On September 19, at the Artists’ House in Daehak-ro, writers Kim Choyeop, Yeon Yeoreum, and Gong Heekyeong — selected for the "2026 Literature Sharing" — will meet readers to discuss the future direction of Korean science fiction (SF). Programs where participants can experience various expressive forms of literature, such as poetry audiobooks and live drawing demonstrations, will also be held.
Numerous literature-related events will be held across the country during the festival. The National Museum of Korean Literature will organize a "Literary Tour" with Deulpul Sijo Literature Museum in Cheongdo, North Gyeongsang Province, on September 20, which will explore local literary and tourism sites. Twelve regional literature museums, including Mokpo Literature Museum, Daegu Literature Museum, and Nojak Hong Sayong Literature Museum, will present content that reinterprets works by regional representative writers through music, media art, and more.
The Hyundai Museum of Kids' Books & Art will host a special exhibition, "L'œil du monde (The Eyes of the World)," in collaboration with Literature Week, showcasing picture books from 12 countries. The Publication Industry Promotion Agency of Korea will hold "Literature Sharing" author events in coordination with institutions including Yeoju Daesin Library and Gyeongnam Literature Museum nationwide.
At the book café Café Comma, authors Seong Haena, Eun Heekyung, and Cheon Myeonggwan will meet with readers as part of the program "A Sideways Glance Beyond the Bookshelf." At Jigwaon Seoga, there will be encounters between poetry writers such as Jeong Hoseung and humanities scholars. The National Asian Culture Center will host a literary film festival.
In addition, over 58 programs including exhibitions, talks, and performances will be held at more than 30 local bookstores nationwide, and in 41 regions, literature festivals supervised by local governments will take place.
Detailed event schedules can be found on the "Korea Literature Festival" official website.
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An official from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism stated, "We hope that this festival will bring the joy of literature to all, facilitating communication across generations and regions through literature. We will continue to support creative literary activities and the overseas expansion of works so that Korean literature can gain more global recognition as a source of K-culture."
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