Korean Novelists Association Continues the Literary Spirit of the Late Kim Munsu…Author Lee Won-kyu Receives the 1st Kim Munsu Literary Award

A new chapter for the Korean literary world has finally been opened with the long-awaited establishment of the “Kim Munsu Literary Award.” The Korean Novelists Association held its historic first awards ceremony at Incheon Harbor Park Hotel on the 18th, selecting the novelist “Lee Won-kyu”, who has offered deep insight into the reality of national division and national spirit, as the inaugural honoree. More than a simple ceremony, this is regarded as a significant milestone—one that firmly anchors the roots of Korean literature and honors the legacy of authorial spirit for future generations.

The Breath of a Giant Tree, the Literary Legacy of the Late “Kim Munsu”

The late “Kim Munsu”, who passed away in 2012, was a giant tree who has guarded the Korean literary scene for more than half a century since his debut through the 1961 Chosun Ilbo New Spring Literary Contest. He swept up the nation’s most prestigious awards, including the Dongin Literary Award and the Contemporary Literature Award, leaving behind keen insights into human dignity and social contradictions. In particular, his novella “Jeungmyo” was produced as the film “Myunyeo (猫女)”, starring Sun Woo-yong-yeo in 1974, leaving a lasting mark even on popular culture. The establishment of this “Kim Munsu Literary Award” is an inevitable outcome meant to honor his noble literary journey, which he devoted his entire life to creative work and nurturing future writers.

The Honor of Being the Inaugural Honoree, a Master of Weighty Narratives—Novelist “Lee Won-kyu”

After overcoming rigorous evaluation, novelist “Lee Won-kyu”, who became the main figure of the first “Kim Munsu Literary Award,” entered the literary world after winning the 1982 Contemporary Literature long-form novel contest. Since then, he has proven the solidity of his distinctive body of work by receiving awards such as the Daehan Minguk Literary Award and the Dongguk Literary Award. The judging committee assessed that his unwavering determination—developed over many years to focus on the heavy themes of Korea’s painful reality of division and national spirit—reached its highest point. The Korean Novelists Association plans to continually discover outstanding writers who will carry forward the late author’s noble values and add depth to Korean literature through this award every year.