LEE HOCHUL LITERARY PRIZE FOR PEACE
LEE HOCHUL LITERARY PRIZE FOR PEACE
The ‘Lee Hochul Literary Prize for Peace’
was established by Eunpyeong-gu Office to commemorate the literary works and spirit of the late author
Lee Ho-chul who had resided in Eunpyeong-gu more than 50 years and whose works are deeply rooted in longing for the reunification of Korea peninsular as the foremost author of unification literature;
with this prize, the office seeks to play a pivotal role in unifying presently divided Korea in the future. Nominees are selected internationally, regardless of their languages and citizenship, as long as he or she, as a living author, has endeavored to overcome the worldwide problems caused by conflict, discrimination of gender, refugees, or races, violence, war, etc. with one’s literary practice and spirit.
The prize consists of two sections – the ‘Lee Hochul Literary Prize for Peace’ and the ‘Lee Hochul Literary Prize for Peace Special Award’ – and it takes place annually.
The Grand Prize Laureate, the main prize winner, receives a plaque and prize money of 50 million won. The winner of Special Award receives a plaque and 20 million won. Their expenses for attending the award ceremony are provided by Eunpyeong-gu Office.
The Objectives of the Lee Hochul Literary Prize for Peace
The focus of the ‘Lee Hochul Literary Prize for Peace’ is to creatively inherit, maintain, and develop the late author Lee Ho-chul’s literary spirit. Lee was a writer who devotedly dealt with the division of the Korean peninsula, which resulted from and became historical remains of the Cold War system whose prelude was the Korean War. One of the most notable Lee Ho-chul’s literary achievements is that it still makes readers to envision a peaceful world without division.
Lee Ho-chul’s literary spirit indeed shows endeavors with its full force from literature to overcome the antagonism, confrontation, and conflict between South and North Korean people.
Not only that, its significance can be broadened to a universal literary practice which ruminates on and strives to overcome the global problems such as conflicts, gender, refugees, discrimination, violence and war.
One cannot overlook the importance of locality in the literature of Lee Ho-chul. Eunpyeong-gu, one of the districts consisting Seoul, is a key point connecting the north and south by its traffic routes. With such a geographical location, Eunpyeong-gu has a symbolic status which can stitch the wound caused by the division, and in doing so it brings peace to the Korean Peninsula as well as to East Asia. In this regard, Eunpyeong-gu, a local place where the literature of Lee Hochul was born, has a certain position that could be deemed international. Therefore, the Lee Hochul Literary Prize for Peace, with its base on this glocality, aims to strengthen and spread Lee Ho-chul’s literary accomplishments throughout the peninsula, across East Asia, and all over the world.
Accordingly, the Lee Ho-chul Literary Prize for Peace selects its recipients from international writers whose works are in accordance with such purposes and objectives. The prize also recognizes young Korean writers whose works strive to succeed and develop the literary accomplishments of Lee Ho-chul. In this way, it is expected that Lee Ho-chul’s literary spirit can strengthen and expand the universal literary solidarity that longs for world peace.
Not only that, its significance can be broadened to a universal literary practice which ruminates on and strives to overcome the global problems such as conflicts, gender, refugees, discrimination, violence and war.
One cannot overlook the importance of locality in the literature of Lee Ho-chul. Eunpyeong-gu, one of the districts consisting Seoul, is a key point connecting the north and south by its traffic routes. With such a geographical location, Eunpyeong-gu has a symbolic status which can stitch the wound caused by the division, and in doing so it brings peace to the Korean Peninsula as well as to East Asia. In this regard, Eunpyeong-gu, a local place where the literature of Lee Hochul was born, has a certain position that could be deemed international. Therefore, the Lee Hochul Literary Prize for Peace, with its base on this glocality, aims to strengthen and spread Lee Ho-chul’s literary accomplishments throughout the peninsula, across East Asia, and all over the world.
Accordingly, the Lee Ho-chul Literary Prize for Peace selects its recipients from international writers whose works are in accordance with such purposes and objectives. The prize also recognizes young Korean writers whose works strive to succeed and develop the literary accomplishments of Lee Ho-chul. In this way, it is expected that Lee Ho-chul’s literary spirit can strengthen and expand the universal literary solidarity that longs for world peace.
Award Logo Concept
Depicting the path of integration formed when books containing two different ways of thinking face each other and achieve a tolerant balance. Based on the three-dimensional expansions of a viewpoint that respects the various perspectives and expressions held by others. the logo reflects the values of this practical literature award, symbolizing the will to go beyond words on a page towards communication and harmony by identifying with the real world.
- Tongil-ro passing between two books that face each other
- Precisely recreates the angular measurements of Tonil-ro on the map
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The small square area in the center of Tongil-ro represents Eunpyeong-gu
(Tongil-ro, Yangcheon-ri) - Expanding from two to three dimensions: representing the practical nature of literature that is unrestricted to mere words on a page
Award Plaque Concept
Lee Hochul emphasized that the driving force of literature lies in experience and in its own spirit, meaning that a writer can only write as much as he or she has experienced throughout life.
Accordingly, we set the concept of a plaque as a handcraft rather than an industrial product (which can be mass-produced), and furthermore, produced the plaque as an art object. The plaque is engraved by Kim Nae-hye, a renowned engraving artist in Korea, using the material called Haenam stone from Haenam, Jeollanam-do, which is located at the edge of the East Asian continent.
Accordingly, we set the concept of a plaque as a handcraft rather than an industrial product (which can be mass-produced), and furthermore, produced the plaque as an art object. The plaque is engraved by Kim Nae-hye, a renowned engraving artist in Korea, using the material called Haenam stone from Haenam, Jeollanam-do, which is located at the edge of the East Asian continent.
- Material : Haenam stone
- Size : 18cm x 28cm
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