Korean Consulate in Vancouver Launches First Book Festival to Spotlight K-Culture’s Literary Roots

The Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Vancouver will host its inaugural Korean Book Festival in October to celebrate Korean Heritage Month in British Columbia. The festival will be held at Granville Island, the Vancouver Public Library, and other cultural venues throughout the city. This marks the city's first comprehensive festival dedicated to Korean literature, graphic novels, author talks, film screenings, live drawings, and theatrical readings.

The festival aims to make Korean culture accessible to readers from various backgrounds by featuring author conversations, student-led exhibition tours, advance book clubs, and creative workshops.

In October 2025, the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia designated October as Korean Heritage Month, recognizing the historical, social, economic, and cultural contributions of Korean Canadians. With over 72,000 people of Korean descent living in British Columbia, the province is home to Canada's second-largest Korean community.

The festival's centerpiece is a special exhibition of Korean graphic novels titled "Jari," which runs from October 5 to 31 at an exhibition space on Granville Island. The exhibition, featuring works by Park Kun-woong, Kim Hong-mo, and Park Ju-hyun, examines how individual lives are situated within history and community. Themes include "A Place in History," "A Place Together," and "A Place in the Heart."

Graphic novels exploring history, community, and belonging will be showcased at the festival. The works will be available on the festival's official website, and visitors who share their reflections on the theme can receive a specially produced Jari anthology. A live drawing show will give audiences insight into the artists' techniques and creative processes.

Author Sang Young Park, known for his novel "Love in the Big City," will participate in the festival, attending author talks, a film screening, and two in-depth author talks at the Revue Stage and the Vancouver Public Library. The Battle of Kapyong graphic novel, commemorating the 75th anniversary of this significant event in Korean-Canadian history, will be presented alongside author Park Kun-woong.

Another program will explore Jeju Island's nature, history, and community life through the lives of Jeju's haenyeo, or female divers, who have been recognized by UNESCO. Lastly, K-Story Hunters, an interactive sound-reading performance, will bring myths, folk songs, children's literature, poetry, and fiction to life using spoken Korean.