'2023 Daesan Literary Awards' Hyun Ki-young's Novel 'Jeju Dowuda'... Poetry, Play, and Translation Prize Money Each 50 Million Won

Poetry - Kim Gi-taek 'Nati is a Knife'
Novel - Hyeon Gi-yeong 'Jeju Dowda'
Play - Lee Yang-gu 'No Winner'
Translation - Matthias Augustin & Park Kyung-hee 'Der Wal (Whale)'

The winners of the 31st Daesan Literary Awards, the largest comprehensive literary awards in Korea, have been announced. ▲In the poetry category, Kim Gitaek’s "A Sickle as a Sword" ▲In the novel category, Hyeon Giyeong’s "Jeju Dowuda" ▲In the play category, Lee Yanggu’s "No Winner" ▲In the translation category, Matthias Augustin and Park Kyunghee’s "Der Wal (The Whale)" were selected. Each winner will receive a prize of 50 million KRW per category and the Daesan Literary Award’s unique trophy, a bronze sculpture titled "Pine Tree" by sculptor Yang Hwaseon. The winning works will be translated into foreign languages in 2024 and published overseas.

The winners of the 31st Daesan Literary Awards in 2023 are taking a commemorative photo. From the left in the photo: poet Kim Gitaek, writer Hyeon Giyeong, and writer Lee Yanggu.
[Photo by Seo Mideum]

The poem "A Sickle as a Sword" was recognized for its aesthetically refined expression of the intellectual life’s effort to pursue a better life. The judging panel praised it as "a poetry collection that sharply and firmly shapes the attitude of enduring the weight of life." Poet Kim Gitaek (66) debuted in 1989 through the Hankook Ilbo New Year’s Literary Contest and has received awards such as the Kim Suyeong Literary Award (1995), the Hyundai Literary Award (2001), and the National Academy of Arts Award (2022).

The novel "Jeju Dowuda" was highly evaluated for vividly reviving the whirlpool of Jeju’s myths and folktales in a contemporary manner, traversing the realities and history of Jeju life from the late Joseon Dynasty through the Japanese colonial period to the liberation era, and deeply dissecting the tragedy of the Jeju 4.3 Incident. The judging panel commented, "Following the perspective and footsteps of a survivor from the scene of immense state violence, the narrative of mourning unfolds, making one deeply feel a pinnacle of Korean Holocaust literature."

Author Hyeon Giyeong (82), who graduated from Seoul National University’s Department of English Education and debuted in 1975 through the Dong-A Ilbo New Year’s Literary Contest, has received awards such as the Shin Dongyeop Literary Award (1986) and the Manhae Literary Award (1990). He also received the Jeju 4.3 Peace Prize (2019) for works dealing with the Jeju 4.3 Incident, including "Suni Samchon" and "Jeju Dowuda." Hyeon Giyeong expressed his award acceptance, saying, "Jeju Island is the most beautiful island in the world, but it once suffered the most horrific tragedy. We have embraced both that beauty and the tragic history and come this far, so I feel proud that Jeju’s painful history has been recognized."

The play "No Winner" was honored for achieving an outstanding balance between social relevance and artistic quality, demonstrating an excellent model of socially engaged playwriting. The judging panel explained, "Using a documentary technique based on historical facts to drive the narrative, it sharply questions issues of law, institutions, censorship, and control that have regressed even from the spirit of the post-liberation constitution." Lee Yanggu (48), who graduated from Chung-Ang University’s Department of Theater and debuted in 2008 through the Seoul Shinmun New Year’s Literary Contest, currently leads the theater company Haein. He said, "Our society today seems to have lost balance in mind, relationships, and the state," and added, "While writing with the keyword ‘fairness,’ I thought a lot about balance."

In the translation category, translators Matthias Augustin (55) and Park Kyunghee (54), who translated Cheon Myeonggwan’s "Der Wal (The Whale)" into German, which was nominated for this year’s Booker Prize, were selected. The couple met at the University of Bonn in Germany and work as translators together. Translator Park Kyunghee also translated Jon Fosse’s "Morning and Evening," who won this year’s Nobel Prize in Literature, into Korean. The judging panel commented, "They translated the vast novel and its long sentences from start to finish in a consistent manner, and their translation, which combines fidelity and readability, brought out the power of the story, earning high praise."

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