Kyungnam University Successfully Hosts 80th Anniversary International Literature Special Event

Special Lecture by Professor Jack Marinaei and Chairperson Kim Sunhyang
"Book of the Year" Special Exhibition...
Highlighting the Tradition of Humanities

Kyungnam University successfully held a special international literature event to commemorate its 80th anniversary, once again highlighting the university's profound tradition in the humanities and its commitment to cultural and artistic values.

On May 20, Kyungnam University hosted the "80th Anniversary International Literature Special Event" in the lobby area on the first floor of the Hanma Future Hall. This event was held in conjunction with the literary poetry and painting exhibition that began on May 18. Members of the university community, students, and citizens attended, sharing a meaningful experience together.

Group photo of Kim Sunhyang, Chairperson, Orpheustext This Year's Book Award Winner Special Exhibition (from left: Mrs. Dusita Marinai, President Park Jaegyu, Professor Jack Marinai, Kim Sunhyang, Chairperson of the Graduate School of North Korean Studies).
[Photo by Kyungnam University]

The event featured a special lecture by Professor Jack Marinaei, a renowned writer and honorary doctorate recipient of Kyungnam University. Professor Marinaei spoke on topics such as the trends in international literature, cross-cultural communication through literature, and the importance of humanities education at universities, emphasizing the cultural and artistic significance of the university’s 80th anniversary.

In addition, a special exhibition of the poetry collection "So Long" by Kim Sunhyang, Chairperson of the University of North Korean Studies, attracted considerable attention from visitors. This poetry collection was selected as the "2025 Orpheus Text Book of the Year" by Mundus Artium Press in the United States. Five representative poems were displayed in the form of poetry paintings during the event, deeply resonating with the audience.

The event also featured a literary poetry and painting exhibition by alumni of the Young Writers Academy. Alumni writers from the academy presented a total of approximately 30 works, including debut pieces and new works, showcasing the literary tradition and creative capacity of Kyungnam University.

Notably, the Young Writers Academy at Kyungnam University—often referred to as "the Literary Academy of Gyeongnam" in the local literary community—has served as a leading program for nurturing literary talent, producing numerous new writers and winners of spring literary contests. This year marks the 15th anniversary of its founding.

Jeong Ilgeun, Director of the Young Writers Academy, stated, "This international literature special event, held in celebration of our university’s 80th anniversary, has demonstrated the depth of humanities and the cultural and artistic dignity that Kyungnam University possesses," adding, "We will continue to carry on the university’s traditions and expand cultural and artistic education in collaboration with the local community."

Meanwhile, Kyungnam University is celebrating its 80th anniversary by organizing a variety of programs, including commemorative ceremonies, academic events, cultural events, and alumni events, as it continues its journey toward becoming a university for the next 100 years.

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