Korean Authors to Showcase Science Fiction at Utopiales Festival in France

The Literature Translation Institute of Korea, which is connected to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, announced that Kim Bo-young, Park Seo-ryeon, and Dolgi Min are set to take part in the festival. This year's theme is "Perspectives," and the authors will feature in seven programs highlighting Korean science fiction as well as other forms of speculative literature like fantasy and queer fiction.

Kim Bo-young will make a return appearance at the festival, having been invited in 2023. Park Seo-ryeon is actively growing her presence at international literary events, while Dolgi Min will engage with French readers for the first time following the recent French publication of his work.

The festival will also include notable science fiction authors such as Hugo Award winner Robert Jackson Bennett and Audrey Pleynet, who has received France’s Prix Rosny aîné. Discussions will cover a range of topics including otherness, the body, and the interconnection between humanity and nature.

Founded in 2000, Les Utopiales encompasses literature, science, film, comics, and games, featuring 124 programs this year and approximately 280 participants, including 97 writers and translators alongside 53 scientists.

Post-festival, on November 2, the literary exchange will continue at Librairie Les Nouveautés in Paris, where readers can meet the authors and gain insights into their creative processes. The event will promote French editions of the authors' works, such as Kim's "De l’origine des espèces," Park's "Magical Girl," and Dolgi's "Prendre Forme."

The institute noted that this initiative contributes to the ongoing cultural cooperation between Korea and France, coinciding with the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations. It aims to enhance exposure to Korean speculative literature in France.