'D-50' Mokpo Literature Expo, Fully Capturing the Sensitivity of Yeohyang

October 7-10 Exhibitions, Experiences, and Competitions Held at Mokpo Literature Museum and More

Main poster image of the Mokpo Literature Expo held in Mokpo from October 7 to 10. Photo by Mokpo City

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Jeong Seunghyun] The Mokpo Literature Expo, which Mokpo City in Jeollanam-do is ambitiously preparing, is just over 50 days away from its opening.

On the 18th, according to the city, this expo will be held under the slogan "Mokpo, from the Beginning of Modern Korean Literature to the Cradle of Future Literature" from October 7 to 10 across the entire city of Mokpo, including the Mokpo Literature Hall, Mokwondong area, and Peace Plaza.

▲ Mokpo, a Literary City Deeply Connected with Giants of Korean Literature

Mokpo, as the first city in the country to use the name "Ye-hyang" (Artistic Village), has culture and arts as a core part of its identity.

Literature is one of the pillars of Mokpo’s culture and arts. Giants of Korean literary history such as Kim Woo-jin, the "Founder of Modern Korean Drama," Park Hwa-seong, the "First Female Novelist in Korea," Cha Beom-seok, the "Completer of Korean Realist Theater," and Kim Hyun, the "Founder of Korean Literary Criticism," were born or raised in Mokpo.

In addition, novelists and literary figures closely connected to Mokpo include Choi In-hoon, regarded as the greatest postwar writer, literary critic Hwang Hyun-san, former chairman of the Korea Arts Council, and the late novelist and playwright Cheon Seung-se, who passed away last year.

It is rare for a small to medium-sized provincial city like Mokpo to have produced so many literary figures who have left a significant mark. Mokpo City decided to hold the Literature Expo to highlight this characteristic and promote the popularization of literature. The Mokpo Literature Expo is the first expo in the country to be held with literature as its theme.

▲ From a Port City into the Sea of Literature

The Literature Expo will operate programs tailored to the characteristics of each space at three key locations: Mokpo Literature Hall, Peace Plaza, and the old downtown area.

At the Mokpo Literature Hall located in Gatbawi Culture Town, various exhibitions, competitions, performances, and experiential programs will showcase the true essence of literature.

Leading with the theme pavilion, an experiential exhibition using digital technology, there will be the "Four Colors Literature Hall" highlighting the works of Kim Woo-jin, Park Hwa-seong, Cha Beom-seok, and Kim Hyun; the Media Seller Hall focusing on popular literature such as webtoons, dramas, and films; an independent bookstore hall; a secondhand bookstore hall; and the Namdo Literature Hall.

Programs that will captivate visitors include the Four Colors Literature Festival, which allows a deeper dive into the literary worlds of these giants, poetry recitation contests, national literary gatherings, music infused with literature, poetry and art songs with commentary, and literature blossoming through magic. The Literature Wellness Therapy Pavilion, where visitors can heal through literature on the lawn, is also attracting attention.

Peace Plaza, located a five-minute walk from Mokpo Literature Hall, will host the opening ceremony, the Mokpo Literature Award ceremony, and the closing ceremony. In the old downtown area, numerous charming programs such as the Literary Family Talk Show will be held in residential alleyways like Bukgyo-dong Alley and Cha Beom-seok Street.

▲ Accelerating the Momentum for the Literature Expo

The city is organizing its team for the successful hosting of the Literature Expo and intensifying efforts to create a buzz.

To this end, in April, the city launched an advisory group chaired by Korea’s representative literary figures, novelist Han Seung-won and poet Hwang Ji-woo, and also formed an executive committee led by Mokpo-born literary critic Hwang Jeong-san, gathering experts from various fields to enhance the expo’s status and completeness.

Alongside this, the city has been promoting the expo through a book donation challenge called "Bukjeok Bukjeok Literature Expo" since June 30, and is also working on online promotion by organizing literature SNS supporters.

In July, the city signed a memorandum of understanding with the Jeollanam-do Office of Education and Mokpo National University to encourage participation in the Literature Expo by elementary, middle, high school, and university students in the province.

Mayor Kim Jong-sik of Mokpo said, "Literature has its unique power and value. The Literature Expo is special because it is held in the COVID era," adding, "We will make every preparation to ensure the Mokpo Literature Expo, which will promote the uniqueness and excellence of Mokpo literature, contribute to the popularization of literature, and be enjoyed by all citizens nationwide."

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