Korean Authors to Attend Les Utopiales Festival in France
Three writers will participate in the international science fiction event scheduled to begin on October 29, 2026.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Science Fiction
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Beginning October 29, 2026, Korean authors Kim Bo-young, Park Seo-ryeon, and Dolgi Min will join the Les Utopiales science fiction festival in Nantes. The writers will take part in seven programs centered on the theme of Perspectives.
Why it matters
The appearance of the three authors supports cultural exchange during the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and France. Their presence highlights the growing global reach of Korean speculative literature.
The festival features 124 total programs with approximately 280 participants. This year, the roster includes 97 writers and translators alongside 53 scientists.
The players
Kim Bo-young
She is a South Korean science fiction writer recognized for her contributions to speculative literature.
Park Seo-ryeon
She is a Korean author participating in the festival as part of the cultural exchange program.
Dolgi Min
He is a writer representing the Korean science fiction community at this international event.
Literature Translation Institute of Korea
This organization supports the translation and promotion of Korean literature to global audiences.
The details
The authors will engage in various programs throughout the festival, which spans literature, film, science, comics, and games. Following the festival, they will host a meeting with readers at the Librairie Les Nouveautés in Paris on November 2.
Timeline
Oct. 29, 2026: The Les Utopiales festival begins in Nantes.
Nov. 2, 2026: The festival concludes and the Paris reader event occurs.
Industry Dynamics
This participation marks a strategic effort to integrate Korean speculative fiction into established European genre circuits. It leverages a significant diplomatic milestone to increase the visibility of non-Western science fiction on the international stage.
Readers can engage directly with the authors during their scheduled festival programs or at the November 2 event in Paris. The Literature Translation Institute of Korea has worked to ensure that French editions of the writers' works are available for attendees.
The takeaway
Science fiction festivals act as vital hubs for cross-cultural dialogue and the dissemination of literature across linguistic borders. Attendees should look for translated works by international authors to broaden their reading perspectives.
Further reading
Discover more about the evolving landscape of international speculative works in our Science Fiction section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Korea Times.
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