'Gulliver meets Hong Gil-dong': Fictional worlds to collide at upcoming SIBF

Famed fictional explorer Gulliver will meet Joseon Dynasty outlaw Hong Gil-dong at the upcoming Seoul International Book Fair (SIBF), set to kick off next week at Coex in Gangnam District, southern Seoul.

Novelist Kim Yeon-su speaks to the press about the 2024 Seoul International Book Fair at the Korean Publishers Association building in Jongno District, central Seoul, on Wednesday. [YONHAP]

Famed fictional explorer Gulliver will meet Joseon Dynasty outlaw Hong Gil-dong at the upcoming Seoul International Book Fair (SIBF), set to kick off next week at Coex in Gangnam District, southern Seoul.

“Some European prints of ‘Gulliver’s Travels’ describe the sea that Gulliver crosses as the ‘Sea of Corea.’ This is the sea where Hong Gil-dong’s Yuldoguk Kingdom is situated, and so, I naturally thought, what if the two meet?” novelist Kim Yeon-su told the press Wednesday at the Korean Publishers Association building in Jongno District, central Seoul.

Hong Gil-dong is the protagonist of the Korean classic "Hong Gildong Jeon," otherwise known as "The Tale of Hong Gildong" by Heo Gyun (1569-1618), published in hangul around the middle of the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1910).

Kim translated parts three and four of “Gulliver’s Travels." Local historian and poet Choe Nam-sun (1890-1957) translated parts one and two of the book in 1909. Kim's translation will be featured at the upcoming SIBF whose theme, Houyhnhnm, also derives from the novel written by Jonathan Swift (1667-1745).

Houyhnhnm refers to an equine race in a very intelligent society where words like war and theft do not exist.

“Swift, in his time, was a devoutly religious man, but was deeply concerned about the future,” Kim said. “Just like how we think that the world is going to end if we keep going at this rate, Swift was worried about that as well."

But fast-forward some 300 years since Swift's book, and humanity is still here. Kim finds this "paradoxically hopeful."

"Classics like 'Gulliver’s Travels' and 'Hong Gildong Jeon' help us experience a large period that humans aren’t capable of seeing, and it expands our views by about reading them."

In this reimagined translation of "Gulliver's Travels," Kim focused on the hope aspect of the book rather than Swift’s view on reality and humanity. Hong Gil-dong appears as well, introducing the Yuldoguk Kingdom as a “place of no language, prison or death."

In depicting a land without languages, Kim said that if today’s technology could tear down the language barrier, “the world would be without discrimination, and there wouldn't be misunderstandings, mistrust and war.”

SIBF runs from June 26 through 30. A total of 122 publishers and industry experts from 18 countries, as well as 350 Korean publishers, will partake in this year's fair to host 450 programs, including talk sessions, exhibitions and book signings. Saudi Arabia is SIBF's main guest of honor this year, and Oman and Norway are spotlighted countries. Notable attendees include "Crying in H Mart" (2021) author Michelle Zauner and graphic novelist Keum Suk Gendry-Kim.

This year's edition is not funded by the government, following allegations by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism that the book fair's host, the Korea Publishing Association (KPA), committed fraud and demanded a return of a portion of its profits. The KPA has since filed an administrative lawsuit against that decision.

KPA President Yoon Chul-ho said during a press conference Wednesday that the fair is being held on the same scale as previous editions.

"It has been organized with donations and membership fees from members and funds from participating companies," Yoon said. "We are preparing some 400 programs with 200 authors so that readers can have a great time this year."

BY LEE HOO-NAM [kjdculture@joongang.co.kr]