Lee Suji, First Korean Author to Receive the 'Andersen Literature Award'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo Mideum] Picture book author Lee Suji (48) has won the Hans Christian Andersen Award in the illustrator category, a prestigious international children's literature award. This is the first time a Korean author has received the Andersen Award, often called the "Nobel Prize of children's literature." It is the second achievement in Asia since Mitsumasa Anno in 1984, making Korea the 28th country to produce a recipient of the globally recognized Andersen Award.

The International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) announced on the 21st (local time) at a press conference held in conjunction with the opening of the Bologna Children's Book Fair in Italy that Lee was selected as this year's Andersen Award illustrator winner. Lee was chosen alongside France's Marjolaine Leray as this year's recipients. Lee said, "I am very honored. I am grateful that it is seen as a sign that Korean children's literature is being recognized worldwide."

Lee was previously the first Korean author to be shortlisted for the Andersen Award in 2016. This year, she was nominated for the second time and won. This year, six finalists were selected, including Lee, Italy's Beatrice Alemagna, Japan's Arai Ryoji, Poland's Iwona Chmielewska, Argentina's Gosti, and Canada's Sydney Smith.

The Andersen Award was established in 1956 to honor Danish fairy tale writer Hans Christian Andersen (1805?1875). It is awarded every two years to authors and illustrators who have contributed to the development of children's literature. The award is given after a comprehensive review of the author's entire body of work, evaluating high artistic value and contributions to children's books. Selection is based on the aesthetic and literary qualities of writing and illustration, the ability to see things from a child's perspective, and the capacity to expand children's curiosity and imagination. Initially, the award was only given to authors, but the illustrator category was added in 1966. Past recipients include Maurice Sendak, Erich K?stner, Astrid Lindgren, Anthony Browne, and Gianni Rodari.

Lee graduated from Seoul National University with a degree in Western Painting in 1996 and earned a master's degree from Camberwell College of Arts in the UK. She wrote and illustrated works such as The Bachelor Who Bought Shadows, The River, Line, Into the Mirror, Let's Play Waves, and Shadow Play, and illustrated The Dream of Becoming Water, Uroma, and Such a Wonderful Day. The Revenge of the Rabbits won the "Most Beautiful Book of Switzerland" award. Alice in Wonderland was recognized for its artistic value and is part of the Tate Modern Artist Book Collection in the UK. She has also gained international attention with honors such as the Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Award and selection as a New York Times Best Illustrated Book. In 2021, she became the first picture book author to win the Korean Publishing Culture Award with The River. Last month, her book Summer is Coming received a Special Mention (Excellence Award) in the Fiction category of the Bologna Ragazzi Award, often referred to as the "Nobel Prize of picture books."

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