Wonju: City of Literature

Wonju in Korea is UNESCO City of Literature since 2019. Hye-ryung told us more about Wonjus literature projects, exchanges with Quebec City and the residency programm.

What makes Wonju a City of Literature and since when does it have the title?

Serving as a city of humanities that leads the philosophy of Korea’s Life Culture, Wonju is home to the writing space of Toji, the representative work of the country’s most renowned novelist, Park Kyung-ni. Recognized as a women- and children-friendly city, Wonju has nurtured numerous female writers and has made significant efforts to foster a picture book culture that transcends generations through the establishment of picture book libraries and a picture book center. In addition, the city promotes citizen-led daily cultural activities, which are actively organized in various club initiatives. The One City, One Book project, which has been running for over a decade, further highlights Wonju’s identity as a Creative City of Literature.

Furthermore, the presence of nine regional hub public libraries and approximately 60 ‘small libraries’ spread across local communities ensures an engaging and accessible literary environment for its citizens. Recognizing the need to promote Wonju’s distinctive cultural and artistic identity, the local cultural and arts community formally proposed joining the UNESCO Creative Cities of Literature Network. These collective efforts and commitments of the citizens ultimately led to Wonju’s designation as a Creative City of Literature in 2019.

With which projects did Wonju apply for the title City of Literature?

We proposed the following projects: First, the Peace Culture Tour and Peace Literature Promotion Project. Wonju developed amid the reality of the Korean War and the nation’s division. It is also the location where Park Kyung-ni, a novelist representing Korea’s philosophy of Life Culture, wrote her seminal work, Toji. Peace Literature should be understood as a creative progression of Wonju’s literary, building upon the foundation of Life Literature. Additionally, we believe that Peace Literature is a vital resource for cultivating a culture of peace, aligning with UNESCO’s founding vision and mission. Rather than pursuing short-term achievements in Peace Literature, this project aims to diversify Wonju’s literary identity and present new challenges for the existing life literature to explore.

Second, the Picture Book City Project. Wonju has proposed a project to promote the picture book industry as a means of fostering the city’s creative industries and, ultimately, establishing it as a storytelling city. Picture books can serve as a vital medium for expressing the life stories of ist residents. Moreover, the picture book sector is one in which Wonju has developed significant experience and human resources, distinguishing it from the publishing industries of other cities. With initiatives such as a picture book library, a picture book center, and a picture book festival, Wonju aspires to become a city of picture books that embraces all generations.

What does it mean for Wonju to be part of UNESCO’s Creative Cities?

This signifies that Wonju, with its unique literary assets, possesses rich potential. Moreover, it suggests that we can enjoy diverse cultures and literature through networking, and utilize this potential as a foundation for urban development.

How did the title effect the local literary scene?

The title has instilled a strong sense of pride in local writers and citizens, and fostered an environment allowing even infants and elementary students to read books across a wide range of genres and freely engage in related programs. Furthermore, we believe it has contributed to creating an urban environment where all generations can naturally access books, and every citizen can own a novel, poetry collection, or even an autobiography.