Korea launches K-Book Week in Paris to mark 140 years of ties with France

Korea is hosting a K-Book Week in Paris this month to commemorate the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations with France, according to a statement from Seoul's culture ministry on Monday. The event, which runs from Saturday to September 18 (Paris time), primarily takes place at the Galerie Joseph cultural complex in the Le Marais district of the French capital.

Its primary objective is to familiarize Korean literature with French and European readers, as informed by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism. The K-Book Week is a joint venture of the Publication Industry Promotion Agency of Korea and encompasses a special display of Korean picture books and literary works, author presentations, and exchanges between Korean and French publishing houses and agents.

This initiative unfolds as Seoul and Paris commemorate 140 years of diplomatic ties, with President Lee Jae Myung currently in France for a state visit and summit with President Emmanuel Macron. Under the theme "Connect: Linking through Books," the program is crafted to promote Korean books in Europe and investigate potential avenues for rights acquisition and collaborative publishing partnerships, as per officials. Culture Minister Chae Hwi-young is expected to attend the exhibition on Wednesday.