Korean epic fantasy 'The Bird That Drinks Tears' wins French literary prize

Korean fantasy writer Lee Young-do's debut novel, "The Bird That Drinks Tears," has been awarded the prestigious 2026 Prix du livre Cultissime in France. The award, presented at the Cultissime Festival in Angers, recognizes the novel as a potential future classic due to its enduring appeal. The prize was determined through a vote that included both the general public and a professional panel, with Lee's work emerging victorious from a field of five finalists.

Among the competitors were authors Adelaide de Clermont-Tonnerre, Virginia Evans, John Boyne, and Julia Thevenot. In expressing his gratitude, Lee highlighted the unique challenges of the writing profession, stating that authors who communicate solely through words, without multimedia elements, can sometimes feel somewhat isolated in the current literary landscape.

Brief written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.