Korean Cultural Center to Host “K-Literature Salon” in MPL

The Korean Cultural Center (KCC) in Egypt will host the “K-Literature Salon” on March 29 at the Misr Public Library (Dokki Branch), offering a platform to explore Korean literature and its growing resonance in the Arab world.

The event is designed to attract literature enthusiasts, students, and the wider public through a program that blends academic discussion with interactive creative activities.

A key highlight of the salon is a lecture by Dr. Mahmoud Abdel-Ghaffar, professor of comparative literature at Cairo University, titled “Literature Through Femininity’s Perspective: An Applied Comparative Study Between Arab and Korean Women Writers.”

Abdel-Ghaffar is known for his Arabic translation of “The Vegetarian” by Nobel Prize-winning Korean author Han Kang. The session will explore how female authors from both cultures’ express themes of identity and creativity, highlighting both shared narratives and distinct cultural perspectives.

The event will also feature an exhibition of Korean literary works, including a selection of books translated into Arabic, reflecting the increasing popularity of Korean literature among Arab readers.

In addition, attendees can participate in three workshops aimed at making literature more accessible and engaging. These include a calligraphy workshop introducing the Korean writing system (Hangeul), a coloring workshop inspired by Korean children’s literature, and a story-writing session encouraging participants to create their own narratives.

The KCC said the event reflects its ongoing efforts to promote cultural exchange and deepen mutual understanding through literature.

The salon comes amid growing global interest in Korean culture, widely known as the “Korean Wave” (Hallyu), which has expanded beyond music and film to include literature. In recent years, Korean authors have gained international recognition, with translated works reaching broader audiences and strengthening cross-cultural dialogue worldwide.