The Korean Cultural Center in Brazil will host an award ceremony for winners of the Korean Literature Review Contest on October 6, 2025, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM. The event, organized in partnership with the School of Philosophy, Letters and Human Sciences (FFLCH) at the University of São Paulo (USP) and supported by the Literature Translation Institute of Korea (LTI Korea), will take place at the center's location on Av. Paulista, 460, Bela Vista, São Paulo.
The ceremony will feature a comprehensive program beginning with the announcement of contest winners and a reading of the first-place review at 2:00 PM. Following the award presentation, attendees will enjoy a special coffee break at 2:30 PM featuring traditional Chuseok dishes, celebrating one of Korea's most cherished holidays during the harvest festival week.
A highlight of the event will be a roundtable discussion at 3:00 PM focusing on Korean literature, particularly the acclaimed works "Human Acts" and "We Do Not Part" by Nobel Prize laureate Han Kang. The discussion panel will include three distinguished jury members: poet Edson Cruz, professor of Asian History Fabiano Bracht, and professor of Korean Studies Dr. Yun Jung Im. The conversation will be moderated by Dr. Ji Yun Kim, who teaches Korean Studies in the Department of Oriental Letters at FFLCH and served as the translator of Han Kang's "Human Acts" into Brazilian Portuguese.
Dr. Yun Jung Im brings extensive expertise as a translator of Korean literature since the 1990s, having worked on Portuguese editions of authors including Han Kang, Yi Sang, and Keum Suk Gendry-Kim. As a USP professor specializing in Korean Language and Literature, her research focuses on Korea's culture, history, and society. Edson Cruz, born in Ilhéus, Bahia, is an accomplished poet, editor, and writer who studied Music, Psychology, and Literature at USP, where he is currently pursuing a master's degree in Creative Writing. He has published 13 books spanning poetry, prose, essays, and children's literature, and serves as editor of the online portal Musa Rara.
Professor Fabiano Bracht holds a PhD in History from the University of Porto and has taught at the Federal University of Paraná before conducting postdoctoral research at USP, where he currently serves as faculty in the Department of History at FFLCH. As a former visiting scholar at the University of British Columbia in Canada, he has collaborated with research centers in Portugal, including CITCEM and REMA, with academic work covering various fields of Modern History and a particular focus on Asian History.
The event welcomes participants of all ages, with free admission available for up to 80 attendees through required registration. Interested individuals must register by September 30, 2025, at 11:59 PM Brasília time through the provided registration link at https://forms.gle/Dodza6K5BR5AxcLC9. Organizers emphasize that registration alone does not guarantee admission, and confirmation will be sent to email addresses provided in the registration form. Those unable to attend are requested to notify organizers at concursolitcoreanagmail.com.
Beyond the formal presentations, the event will include special activities designed to enhance the cultural experience. Attendees will have opportunities to participate in a raffle for special prizes as appreciation for their presence. The Chuseok-themed coffee break offers guests a unique chance to taste traditional Korean holiday foods while celebrating literature and knowledge, creating an immersive cultural experience that combines literary appreciation with authentic Korean culinary traditions.
The award ceremony represents more than recognition of contest winners, serving as a dedicated space for meaningful dialogue and reflection on Korean literature's growing international influence. Through this comprehensive program combining academic discussion, cultural celebration, and community engagement, participants will gain deeper insights into contemporary Korean literary works while experiencing traditional Korean hospitality and customs firsthand.
