Agent Who Introduced Han Kang's "The Vegetarian" Abroad Wins Dari Award

The Black Label and Landing International Also Honored

'2025 Dari Awards 20th Anniversary Ceremony' Winners

Barbara Zitwer, the literary agent who introduced author Han Kang's novel "The Vegetarian" to international audiences, has been recognized for her contributions to Korea-U.S. cultural exchange.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Creative Content Agency announced on December 8 that Barbara Zitwer was selected as Person of the Year at the "2025 Dari Awards 20th Anniversary Ceremony," which was held at the Korea Center in Los Angeles, United States, on December 4.

Established in 2005, the Dari Awards honor individuals and organizations that have contributed to Korea-U.S. cultural exchange and industrial cooperation, presenting them with the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Award.

Zitwer has consistently led the overseas expansion of Korean literature through the Barbara Zitwer Agency, which she founded in 1991. She introduced works such as Shin Kyung-sook's "Please Look After Mom" and Han Kang's "The Vegetarian" to foreign readers, and has discovered Korean writers from various generations and genres, including Jeong Youjeong and Yoon Gowoon, helping them enter markets in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Europe.

The Black Label was named Company of the Year. Founded in 2016 by producer Teddy, the company participated in music production for the Netflix animated series "K-Pop Demon Hunters" this year. "Apartment (APT)" by Blackpink's Ros?, an artist under the label, also received an enthusiastic global response.

Landing International was recognized in the Business Partnership of the Year category. Established in 2013, this K-beauty overseas distribution company has introduced more than 200 Korean beauty brands through 80 international distribution channels, achieving cumulative retail sales of 250 million dollars.

The ceremony featured a collaborative performance between Korean traditional music "Gu-eum" and American hip-hop, as well as a stage by magician Kim Youngmin, who reached the semifinals of the U.S. audition program "America's Got Talent."

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