Special exhibition marks 60th anniversary of 'Seoul Is Crowded' serialization; academic forum commemorates 10th anniversary of the Lee Ho-cheol Tongillo Literary Award
Eunpyeong-gu in Seoul will hold a special exhibition and academic forum at the Lee Ho-cheol Book Concert Hall on Sept. 11 to mark the 10th anniversary of the death of author Lee Ho-cheol.
The Lee Ho-cheol Book Concert Hall was established to honor Lee, a leading figure in Korean literature on division and peace who lived in Eunpyeong-gu for more than 50 years. The venue was officially designated a public museum in February and now operates a range of exhibitions and programs.
The special exhibition was organized to commemorate both the 10th anniversary of Lee's death and the 60th anniversary of the serialization of his novel "Seoul Is Crowded."
First serialized in the Dong-A Ilbo in 1966, "Seoul Is Crowded" drew wide readership for its vivid portrayal of Seoul at the time and the lives of ordinary people caught up in rapid urbanization.
The exhibition will compare Seoul's streetscapes from 60 years ago as depicted in the novel with the city's present-day appearance, exploring how urban life has transformed over the decades. Alongside this, organizers will announce a three-year plan to publish a selected works anthology of Lee's writing.
The academic forum, marking the 10th anniversary of the Lee Ho-cheol Tongillo Literary Award, will be held under the theme "Ten Years of Lee Ho-cheol's Literature — Beyond the Solidarity of Wounds and Memory, Writing a Future of Resistance and Practice Against Oppression." The event will open with a keynote address by Im Heon-yeong, director of the National Museum of Korean Literature, followed by discussions examining the meaning and value of Lee's work from multiple perspectives.
Presentations will then follow from Ko Myeong-cheol, a professor at Kwangwoon University, on "World Literature Struggling Against Decolonization and the Cold War"; Oh Gil-yeong, a professor at Chungnam National University, on "The Solitude of Unwelcome Writers"; and Yun Jo-won, a professor at Korea University, on "Writing That Crosses the Alert Line." A panel discussion featuring faculty from major universities across the country will close the forum, focusing on literary practice that traverses the boundaries of contemporary society.
Eunpyeong-gu said it hopes the exhibition and forum will rekindle interest in Lee's work and literary spirit and bring wider recognition to his contribution to Korean literature.
"We have prepared this occasion to revisit the work and literary spirit of author Lee Ho-cheol on the 10th anniversary of his passing," Eunpyeong-gu District Mayor Kim Mi-gyeong said. "I hope this special exhibition and academic forum will serve as an opportunity to understand Lee Ho-cheol's literature through today's eyes and share its value together."
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