Iksan City Accepting Submissions for 'Garam Sijo Literary Newcomer Award' Until September 19

Promoting Sijo Literature
Discovering Promising New Poets

Iksan City in North Jeolla Province is now accepting submissions for the 17th Garam Sijo Literary Newcomer Award until September 19.

According to the city on September 4, the Garam Sijo Literary Award is held annually to honor the literary spirit of Garam Lee Byunggi, a towering figure in modern Korean sijo poetry, to promote sijo literature, and to discover promising new poets.

Aerial view of Iksan City Hall. Provided by Iksan City

Eligibility is limited to sijo poets with less than 10 years of experience who made their debut after September 4, 2015, and have published works or collections within the past three years. Submitted works must be original sijo poems that have been published in print (such as books or periodicals) and have not received any other literary awards.

The winner will be selected through a review by a panel of experts in the field of sijo literature, followed by the final decision of the Garam Sijo Literary Award Steering Committee. The winner will receive a prize of 10 million won and a commemorative plaque.

Applicants can submit their application form and works by registered mail, email, or by visiting the Garam Literature Museum in person. Only entries received by 6 p.m. on September 19 will be accepted. The application form can be downloaded from the city’s official website.

The award ceremony will take place on November 1 at the Garam Literature Museum, where the winner will be honored. On the same day, the 45th Garam Sijo Literary Award, which is given to established sijo poets with over 20 years of creative experience, will also be presented.

The city hosts a variety of literary events each year, including the Garam Literature Festival, to carry on the literary legacy of Garam Lee Byunggi. In particular, the Garam Sijo Literary Newcomer Award has become a gateway for emerging writers who will lead the future of sijo literature. Last year, the 16th award was given to poet Lee Heejeong for "The Time of the Clock," which was highly praised for its depth and composition. For more information, visit the announcement section of the Iksan City website or contact the Garam Literature Museum.

A city official stated, "Through this contest, we hope to discover talented new sijo poets and further establish Iksan, the hometown of Garam, as a central hub of sijo literature."

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