Overseas Koreans Literature Award announces record-breaking winners

The Overseas Koreans Agency has announced the winners of the 28th Overseas Koreans Literature Award, marking a record-breaking year for the competition. A total of 4,307 entries were submitted from 70 countries, a significant increase from the 2,500 entries received from 61 countries last year.

Grand prizes were awarded in three categories: Choi Yun-hee (US) won the Grand Prize for short story with ‘Proof of Zero’; Im Julia (US) won the Grand Prize for poetry with ‘Cracked Things’; and Lee Hyun (Austria) won the Grand Prize for essay/memoir with ‘Despair of 150 Euros, Miracle of 300 Euros’.

In total, 13 works were selected, including five essays, four poems, and four short stories. The judging panel praised the works for their “rich and individual experiences unique to overseas Koreans” and their narratives of overcoming difficulties through linguistic refinement. Winners will visit South Korea to participate in award ceremonies and exchange events during World Korean Week. The winning works will be published in a collection titled ‘Window of Overseas Korean Literature’.