Renowned Chinese, Japanese writers to visit Seoul

SEOUL, Sept. 16 (Yonhap) -- Renowned writers from China and Japan are to visit Seoul later this month to attend a forum on East Asian literature, organizers said Tuesday.

Leading Japanese playwright and writer Inoue Hisashi and Chinese author Mo Yan,
who gained notoriety with his novel-turned film "Red Sorghum," will
visit South Korea to participate in a seven-day East Asia Literature Forum
starting on Sept. 29, announced Daesan Foundation, a Seoul-based literary
organization.

The forum is the first of its kind and was established to promote exchange and
understanding between the writers of South Korea, China and Japan.

Some 50 writers from the three East Asian countries will participate in the
forum, including Chinese author Tie Ning, whose short story "Ah,
Xiangxue" won a Chinese national award in 1982, and Su Tong, best known for
his book "Wives and Concubines," which was later adapted into the
acclaimed film "Raise the Red Lantern." Japanese writer Masahiko
Shimada, a self-described left-wing author, will be in attendance, as will
Keiichiro Hirano and Risa Wataya, winners of Japan's prestigious Akutagawa Prize
at the ages of 23 and 19 respectively.

Hwang Sok-yon, a South Korean novelist sentenced to 7 years in prison in 1993 for
an unauthorized visit to North Korea and freed by presidential pardon from former
President Kim Dae Jung after serving five years, will also take part in the
forum, the foundation said.

ygkim@yna.co.kr

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