Seoul Int'l Book Fair examines inequality between human, 'nonhuman'

Poster of 2023 Seoul Interntional Book Fair, slated to begin Wednesday at Coext in Gangnam District, southern Seoul [SEOUL INTERNATIONAL BOOK FAIR]

The Seoul International Book Fair (SIBF), Korea's largest annual book festival, will begin Wednesday at Coex in Gangnam District, southern Seoul.

Some 210 guest speakers and 530 publishers from 36 countries are expected to attend exhibitions, seminars and other various events like book signings throughout the five-day book fair.

Among the prolific lineup is Canadian author Yann Martel, best known for "Life of Pi" (2002). He will give a private lecture about what defines humans on Wednesday, then participate in a panel discussion with Korean novelist Kim Jung-hyuk on Thursday.

Cheon Myeong-kwan, behind this year's International Booker shortlist nominee "Whale," will hold a book talk on Saturday.

Vietnamese American professor and novelist Viet Thanh Nguyen whose Pulitzer-winning debut novel "The Sympathizer" (2015) inspired the upcoming HBO series directed by Park Chan-wook, will speak about Asian diasporic literature in America on Sunday.

This year's theme is "Nonhuman."

"SIBF 2023 acknowledges the warnings of disaster that result from human-centered approach and invites 'nonhuman' participation to establish balance and eliminate inequality between humans and other beings," Korean Publishers Association said through the fair's website.

In relation, the six ambassadors for this year's SIBF — Korean writers Cheon Seon-ran, Pyun Hye-young, Oh Jung-hee, Kim In-suk, Kim Ae-ran and Choi Eun-young — will host a group lecture titled "Literature as Nonhumans" followed by a panel discussion, on Sunday.

The festival has also curated a special exhibition of 600 books under the keywords disappearance, resistance, acceleration, intersection and possibility.

The guest country of honor this year is Sharjah of the United Arab Emirates. Visiting speakers will lead five sessions throughout Saturday, shedding light on Emirati literature, its narrative techniques, women writers, folk poems and literary salons.

Canada has been chosen as the spotlight country in celebration of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Canada.

For those who didn't apply for early bird passes, tickets are available on-site for 10,000 won ($8). More information can be found on sibf.or.kr.

BY LEE JIAN [lee.jian@joongang.co.kr]