International Literary Exchanges

HISTORY

2014
Daesan-U.C. Berkeley Korean writer residency program
Conducted jointly with U.C. Berkeley in order to provide creative experiences to new, talented writers, promote literary exchanges between Korea and the United States and introduce Korean literature to the United States, the program sent novelist Gang Yeong-suk, its eighth participant, in 2014. From this year, the residency period has been extended to six months to allow for a deeper experience. To select its 9th participant for 2015, the foundation collected applications for a two-month period starting in September and conducted a screening by a selection committee, but it could not select a participant as none of the applicants accurately understood the purpose of the program.
Korean-Spanish Literature Exchange Night
Held to introduce Korean literature translated into Spanish and Spanish literature translated in Korea to their respective cultural zones, this event was held at the Kyobo Convention Hall on the 23th floor of the Kyobo Building in Gwanghwamun on Sep. 25. Novelist Lee Sun-won, poet Sin Dal-ja and South and Central American ambassadors participated as readers, reciting in Korean and Spanish selections from Korean and Latin American literature. In was an especially meaningful time as Korean readers were introduced to works by Latin American literary greats such as Octavio Paz and Julio Cortázar on the centennial of their births.
Sponsorship of the international symposium to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of English Language and Literature Association of Korea
The foundation sponsored a symposium to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the English Language and Literature Association of Korea, themed “Cosmopolitanism: Past and Present, East and West,” held to spotlight the past and present and discuss global citizenship. The symposium, held at Ewha Womans University from Nov. 20 to Nov. 22, was attended by eminent scholars from 11 nations. Some 200 papers were read during the gathering. Through the event, Korea's English literature community could take part in the international academic discussion. The foundation sponsored plane tickets, program production costs and accommodation.
Support for ceremony to mark poet Ko Un's winning of the North-South International Prize for Literature
An award ceremony and commemorative event to mark poet Ko Un's winning of the North-South International Prize for Literature for “Cose,” translated into Italian with the support of the Daesan Foundation in 2010, was held in Italy from Oct. 22 to Oct. 29. The event included poetry recitals. The foundation sponsored Ko's and translator Vincenza D'urso's participation in the event.