The Korean Cultural Centre UK (KCCUK) and the Publication Industry Promotion Agency of Korea (KPIPA) have announced their participation as official partners of the Edinburgh International Book Festival in August 2025. This groundbreaking collaboration marks the first time Korea has served as an official international partner of the world's largest literary festival, presenting a special program dedicated to showcasing Korean literature and publishing culture as part of the 2025 K-Book Overseas Promotion and Exchange project.
Dr. Seunghye Sun, Director of KCCUK, expressed her enthusiasm about this historic partnership. "We are delighted that Korea has become an official international partner of the Edinburgh International Book Festival for the first time," she said. "Focusing on the role Korean literature has played in world literature and will continue to play in the future, we will strive to share the virtues of Korean aesthetics with global readers."
The Edinburgh International Book Festival, scheduled to run from August 9-24, 2025, stands as the world's most significant literary event. The festival will feature over 600 writers and scholars participating in more than 700 programs. KCCUK and KPIPA will host various opportunities designed to promote the uniqueness and depth of Korean literature to international audiences in Edinburgh, which holds the prestigious designation as one of UNESCO's Cities of Literature. The festival takes place alongside Edinburgh's renowned International Festival, making it the UK's most important literary gathering.
This year's festival will feature renowned Korean author Hwang Sok-yong as one of the main program highlights on August 19. KCCUK is sponsoring this program as part of its role as an official international partner, aiming to amplify the voice of Korean literature to readers worldwide. During his book talk, Hwang will discuss his masterpiece "Mater 2-10" and explore how Korean literature resonates within a global historical context.
Hwang Sok-yong has established himself as a master of Korean literature through his vivid portrayals of Korea's complex modern history in acclaimed works such as "Jang Gil-san" and "The Guest." His latest work, "Mater 2-10," earned him a nomination for the 2024 International Booker Prize and presents a sweeping narrative that encompasses 100 years of modern Korean history. This monumental work represents Hwang's life achievement, requiring 30 years from initial conception to final completion.
"Mater 2-10" tells its story through the life of a railway worker and his family, providing a penetrating examination of Korean history from the Japanese occupation era to the present day. Despite its substantial length of over 2,000 manuscript pages, the novel captivates readers with its dynamic narrative, diverse and compelling characters, and Hwang's distinctive wit. The book satisfies readers who seek serious, emotionally intense epic literature and has achieved remarkable commercial success, selling nearly 70,000 copies in Korea.
The international reception of "Mater 2-10" has been equally impressive, with translations already published in six countries and 12 additional countries preparing to release their own editions. The Edinburgh International Book Festival has described the upcoming event as "a special encounter with an author who transcends the boundaries of literature and history," calling Hwang's visit "a rare honor." The 2024 Booker Prize judging committee praised the work as "a comprehensive book about Korea rarely seen in the West, combining the historical narrative of a country with an individual's journey for justice." They further noted that "this work is a magical realist novel that reflects the lives of modern industrial workers and is Hwang Sok-yong's greatest masterpiece, to which he devoted 30 years."
Beyond traditional literature, the Edinburgh International Book Festival will also explore the emerging potential of Korean web novels in global publishing trends. On August 12, Dr. Seunghye Sun will present at the festival's industry program titled "Global Ink: International Industry Day," participating in a forum called "Born Digital - Web Novels and the Global Reading Revolution." This panel discussion will be moderated by Alastair Horne, Professor of Publishing Studies at the University of Stirling, with Dr. Sun joining Sean Xie, Head of the Beijing International Book Fair, as fellow panelists.
During her presentation, Dr. Sun will introduce the significance of the K-Universe in web novels as representing a new era of Korean aesthetics. She will explain how web novels have evolved beyond a simple trend to become a core genre leading the global content industry, with Korea positioned at the forefront of this digital innovation. The discussion will focus on examining changes in digital-based storytelling, the growth of fan communities, and intersections with traditional publishing, particularly in East Asia, to explore new possibilities for the future of publishing and storytelling in the digital age.
