hankyoreh

The 1st Asian Literature Festival began on Nov. 1 at the Asia Cultural Center in the city of Gwangju. On the first day of the festival, about 20 poets and novelists visited the May 18 National Cemetery to pay tribute to those killed in Korea’s Democratization Movement. Korean poet Ko Un (second from right), the festival’s chairman, spoke first and foremost about the famous Korean poet Jo Taeil (1941-1999), who he said, “devoted his entire life to democratization.” The festival will continue until Nov. 4. (provided by Jung Dae-ha, Gwangju correspondent)