Cultural partnership rooted in novelist's early career at predecessor bank

Woori Bank to sponsor special prize at Park Kyung-ni Literary Award, host exhibition at Woori1899

Woori Bank President Jeong Jin-wan (left) and Toji Cultural Foundation Chairman Kim Se-hee pose for a photo at Woori1899, the bank's history museum at its headquarters, during an MOU signing ceremony held Wednesday to mark the centenary of novelist Park Kyung-ni's birth. [Woori Bank]
Woori Bank President Jeong Jin-wan (left) and Toji Cultural Foundation Chairman Kim Se-hee pose for a photo at Woori1899, the bank's history museum at its headquarters, during an MOU signing ceremony held Wednesday to mark the centenary of novelist Park Kyung-ni's birth. [Woori Bank]

Woori Bank will support the English translation and overseas publication of "Toji," the landmark novel by Park Kyung-ni, as part of efforts to promote Korean literature abroad on the centenary of the author's birth.

The bank signed an MOU with the Toji Cultural Foundation for cultural cooperation and presented a donation to fund related projects at Woori1899, its history museum inside its headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul, it announced Wednesday.

Before her literary debut, Park worked at the Yongsan branch of Commercial Bank — Woori Bank's predecessor — in 1954. She published a long poem, "Sea and Sky," under her birth name Park Geum-i in the bank's in-house magazine "Cheonil," and continued her connection with the institution after leaving, contributing a short story, "Jeonsengnok," to the same publication.

Under the agreement, Woori Bank will sponsor the English translation and international publication of "Toji," Park's sweeping epic novel. A special prize recognizing contributions to Korean literature is also set to be awarded at this year's Park Kyung-ni Literary Award.

"We will actively support the great literary legacy of Park Kyung-ni — who shares a special bond with Woori Bank — so that it can reach the world and resonate more widely," Woori Bank President Jeong Jin-wan said.

Woori Bank has also organized a special exhibition featuring materials from Park's time at Commercial Bank. Early works she contributed to the bank's in-house magazine, along with personal items from her collection, will be on free public display at Woori1899 through Sept. 18.

Meanwhile, Woori Bank reopened Woori1899 last year after a full renovation of what had been the country's first dedicated bank history museum when it opened in 2004, 21 years earlier. The museum also displays historical records from Park's 1954 employment at the former Commercial Bank, including her personnel file and magazine contributions.


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