Introduction to the Narum Literature Award and Publication Ceremony
We are pleased to introduce the Narum Literature Award and the publication ceremony.
The 45th edition of the Narum Literature was celebrated alongside the 20th Narum Literature Award ceremony at the Dangjin City Saemaul Hall, hosted by the Narum Literary Society, led by President Kim Seon-sun. Founded in 1980, the society publishes the comprehensive literary magazine Narum Literature annually, promoting local literary development and discovering new literary talents.
This year, the Narum Literature Award evaluated works across various genres, including poetry, prose, and children's literature, based on their thematic consciousness, humanity, and artistic quality.
To celebrate the publication and award ceremony, new member Kim Ji-hwa opened the event by singing 'Burn Me,' expressing her heartfelt connection with the Narum Literary Society.
President Kim Seon-sun expressed her happiness in her opening remarks, stating, "I am truly happy to meet you all today. Like the healing life I have lived through poetry, I believe literature is a powerful tool that brings love into our lives. I hope that through the 45th edition of Narum Literature, we can reaffirm the true power of language that arises from human life and experiences."
Following this, poet Lim Jeong-sook recited 'Simjeol,' the award-winning piece by the grand prize recipient, Choi Ko-won. The reading of 'Simjeol' resonated deeply with the audience.
The award ceremony proceeded with Secretary Moon Young-ho sharing the evaluation from literary critic Ryu Kyung-geun, who judged the works. The evaluation focused on pieces with exceptional artistic quality and strong narrative capability, emphasizing uniqueness, innovative techniques, emotional significance, and overall composition quality.
The finalists in the poetry category showcased lyrical expressions and authentic emotions. Notably, this year's submissions included a significant number of children's literature entries, such as poems and fairy tales, which were considered for a special award to broaden the scope of Narum Literature and contribute to the vitality of children's literature.
Kim Mi-song's poem 'Thinking of Brother' was selected for a special award, praised for its warmth and lyrical stability. Nam Jae-sook's fairy tale 'Grandfather, Our Grandfather' was recognized for its balanced blend of fun, emotion, and educational elements, possessing a compelling quality that encourages multiple readings.
Kim Mi-song expressed her gratitude to her parents for allowing her to carry many emotional stories in her childhood. She shared her joy in receiving the Narum Literature Award while contemplating how to express the emotions of dreaming alongside children.
Nam Jae-sook mentioned her desire to write fairy tales sparked after reading to her child. Inspired by a scene where an elderly grandmother shares childhood stories with her daughter, she crafted a fairy tale, fearing that warm memories with her grandparents would fade.
The work award was given to Heung Jeong-im for 'That Art Museum' and Lee Chang-kyu for 'Awakening My Life.' Heung Jeong-im reflected on how poetry transformed her perception of the world, stating, "Before encountering poetry, I felt disconnected from the world. By giving personality to small things and engaging with them, my life became less empty and lonely."
Lee Chang-kyu shared his experience of writing to reconnect with the sensation of being alive amidst the mundane routine of daily life. He expressed gratitude to the judges for their warm acknowledgment of his work.
The excellence award recipients included Jeon Geum-ja for her poem 'To September' and Jeong Se-young for her prose 'I Have a Sister Who Will Never Grow Old.' Jeon Geum-ja returned to writing after a friend's encouragement, realizing the power of simple sentences, while Jeong Se-young reflected on her bittersweet memories of parting with her sister.
The grand prize was awarded to student Choi Ko-won for the poem 'Simjeol.' Despite not being particularly interested in literature before, he found inspiration in web novels and utilized techniques learned in school to complete his work.
The Narum Literary Society continues to publish the literary magazine Narum Literature annually, now in its 45th edition, enriching the emotional landscape of Dangjin citizens and nurturing talented writers.
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