# Medellín Book and Culture Festival

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/medelln-book-and-culture-festival
> Updated: 2026-09-14T04:13:05.000Z. Sources: 13. Developments: 3.

The 20th edition of the Medellín Book and Culture Festival is being held in Colombia, featuring over 3,600 free activities including workshops, cinema, and music. The event also serves as a relief effort for families affected by an earthquake that struck Colombia on August 10, utilizing the campaign ‘No pases la página, la reconstrucción apenas comienza’ to collect food, hygiene products, and clothing.

South Korea is participating as the festival’s guest of honor, with programming centered on literature, historical memory, and resistance. The Korean delegation includes authors such as Keum Suk Gendry-Kim, Geum-yi Lee, Un-Su Kim, and Guho Cho. Highlights include the distribution of a free Spanish translation of the classic tale ‘Chunhyangjeon’ and the presentation of the graphic novel ‘Hierba’, which reconstructs the testimony of Lee Ok-Sun, a survivor of the sexual slavery system imposed by the Japanese army during World War II.

Running from September 11 to 20 at the Botanical Garden and Explora Park, the festival also features the National Center for Historical Memory (CNMH). Under the theme ‘Voice for those who had no voice’, the CNMH aims to foster public conversation through workshops and research. Specific activities include ‘Cartography for Memory’, a mapping workshop for youth, and the presentation of the podcast ‘Languages of Memory: impacts on metalheads within the framework of the conflict’.

## Claims

- South Korea is the guest of honor at the 20th Medellín Book and Culture Festival (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Keum Suk Gendry-Kim is a featured author (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The graphic novel Hierba reconstructs the testimony of Lee Ok-Sun (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Lee Ok-Sun was a victim of sexual slavery imposed by the Japanese army during WWII (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The festival includes the Spanish translation of Chunhyangjeon (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The Spanish translation of Chunhyangjeon will be distributed for free (corroborated by 3 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-09-14: Medellín hosts National Center for Historical Memory at Book Festival

The National Center for Historical Memory will participate in Medellín's 20th Book and Culture Festival, offering workshops and activities to foster public dialogue regarding Colombia's recent history.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/medelln-hosts-national-center-for-historical-memory-at-book-festival

### 2026-09-12: South Korea named guest of honor at Medellín Book and Culture Festival

South Korea is the guest of honor at the 20th Medellín Book and Culture Festival, showcasing literature focused on historical memory and resistance.

7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/south-korea-named-guest-of-honor-at-medelln-book-and-culture-festival

### 2026-09-08: Medellín Book and Culture Festival celebrates 20 years

Medellín's 20th Book and Culture Festival will host over 3,600 free activities while serving as a donation hub for families affected by the recent earthquake in Colombia.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/medelln-book-and-culture-festival-celebrates-20-years

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Cite as: Medellín Book and Culture Festival. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/medelln-book-and-culture-festival