Prize for international poetry granted for the inaugural occasion - Global Poetry Honour Conferred for Initial Time in International Literary Contest
In a significant milestone, the International Literature Prize, jointly awarded by the House of World Cultures (HKW) in Berlin and the Elemental Particles Foundation, has chosen "Autobiography of Death" by South Korean author Kim Hyesoon as its 17th recipient. This marks the first time the prestigious prize has been awarded to a work of poetry.
The acclaimed German translation of Kim Hyesoon's groundbreaking work, carried out by translators Sool Park and Uljana Wolf, has been hailed as an outstanding contribution to international contemporary literature. The jury's praise for "Autobiography of Death" was based on its literary merit, with critics lauding its texts that open up as they are read, and images that reveal themselves like road signs.
The prize, worth a total of 35,000 euros, is unique in that it is awarded to both the author and the participating translators. In this case, the translators, Sool Park and Uljana Wolf, will receive 15,000 euros, while the author, Kim Hyesoon, will receive 20,000 euros.
It's important to note that the controversy surrounding the jury's work last year did not involve the translators Sool Park and Uljana Wolf or the work "Autobiography of Death." The HKW has categorically rejected allegations of political bias in the nomination of titles, stating that the selection is based on exceptional literary quality.
This year's award continues the tradition of recognising exceptional literature, breaking new ground by honouring a work of poetry for the first time. The International Literature Prize, established in 2005, has previously been awarded to notable authors such as Olga Tokarczuk, Liu Xiaobo, and J.M. Coetzee.
The award ceremony for the International Literature Prize will take place later this year, where Kim Hyesoon will be presented with the prize for her remarkable work, "Autobiography of Death." The translation by Sool Park and Uljana Wolf will also be honoured for their contribution to bringing this powerful and thought-provoking work to a wider audience.
The Community policy of the House of World Cultures (HKW) and the Elemental Particles Foundation, as well as the Employment policy of the translators Sool Park and Uljana Wolf, have made a significant impact in the field of international contemporary literature by securing the German translation of Kim Hyesoon's "Autobiography of Death," which has been lauded as an outstanding contribution.
The Employment policy within the HKW has been instrumental in the fair and unbiased selection of literary works, as proven by the jury's choice of "Autobiography of Death," which breaks new ground as the first poetry work to receive the International Literature Prize.
