Minister Park Yang-woo: "Author Baek Heena's Artistic Achievements Receive International Recognition"

Send Congratulations on the 2nd "A Great Achievement That Elevated the Status of Korean Culture"

[Asia Economy Reporter Jonggil Lee] Park Yang-woo, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, extended his congratulations and encouragement to Baek Hee-na (49), the first Korean to receive the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, on the 31st of last month (local time). In a congratulatory message sent on the 2nd, Minister Park said, “This award is the international recognition of Baek Hee-na’s artistic achievement, who has shown a wondrous world of works through her ingenious imagination and unique creative techniques.” He added, “I thank Baek for her remarkable achievement in promoting the artistic quality and popularity of Korean picture books worldwide, elevating the status of Korean publications and, furthermore, Korean culture.”

Baek is a children’s literature author famous for ‘Cloud Bread.’ She warmly portrays family love with childlike imagination. She charmingly expresses this process using three-dimensional puppets and props. Instead of drawing pictures like other authors, she creates puppets according to the story, builds sets and props, and takes photographs.

The Astrid Lindgren Award is called the Nobel Prize of children’s literature. Established in 2002 by the Swedish government to honor the spirit of Astrid Lindgren (1907?2002), the fairy tale author famous for ‘Pippi Longstocking.’ This year, 240 children’s literature authors from 67 countries were nominated. The prize money is $500,000 (612 million KRW). The winner was originally scheduled to be announced at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair. However, due to the spread of COVID-19, the event was postponed, and the announcement was made by Lindgren’s grandson at his home.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.