Diaspora Korean Literature... Lee Sujeong, Jeong Cheoryong, Kim Jaedong Win 'Neomeo' New Literary Award

Award for Discovering Korean Works Reflecting Diaspora Life and Spirit
Lee Sujeong (Heureuneun, Zero), Jeong Cheoryong (Auckland Solaris), Kim Jaedong (Neungae Bi)
Prize Money: 5 Million KRW for Novels, 3 Million KRW for Others

On the 1st, the Literature Translation Institute of Korea announced the winners of the 1st 'Neomeo' New Writer Literary Award: Lee Sujeong (Heureuneun, Zero), Jeong Cheolyong (Auckland Solaris), and Kim Jaedong (Neungae Bi). This award aims to discover Korean-language works that capture the life and spirit of the diaspora, and was open for submissions from overseas Koreans and foreigners residing in Korea from November 14 last year to April 30. Among a total of 111 entries from 21 countries across three categories?novel, poetry, and essay/non-fiction?one winner was selected per category. The prize money for the novel category is 5 million KRW, and for poetry and essay/non-fiction categories, 3 million KRW each.

Lee Sujeong, who immigrated to the United States over 20 years ago, received the judges' comments that her work "conveys deep reflection and messages along with the harsh weight of the lives of diaspora who 'endure while flowing,'" and that "her captivating sentences and unique style expand the particularities of immigrants into universality, fitting well with the purpose of the 'Neomeo' New Writer Award." Jeong Cheolyong, who settled in New Zealand 20 years ago, was praised for "not only skillfully selecting objects and handling language but also possessing an inherent subtle humor." Kim Jaedong, who has lived in the United States since 1988, was described as having written an essay that "quietly and slowly seeps with lyricism, evoking memories of the most painfully remembered person, the mother, while living a life away from home in a foreign country, as suggested by the title (excerpted)."

Kwack Hyohwan, President of the Literature Translation Institute of Korea, stated, “Through the inaugural 'Neomeo' New Writer Literary Award, we have opened a new chapter of Korean literature encompassing overseas Koreans and foreigners,” and added, “We look forward to continuously holding this award and encountering diverse works that expand the possibilities of Korean literature in step with the era of globalization.”

The award ceremony is scheduled to be held online in September, and the winning works can be viewed in the diaspora literary quarterly webzine 'Neomeo.'

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