International Writing Contest

About the Book

Han Kang’s novel We Do Not Part is a work that gathers the voices of those who remember the painful wounds of Korea’s modern history.

What can one think of to endure?
If there is no fire rising fiercely in the chest.
If there is no you to return to and embrace at last.

From those who lived in this place, from those who are alive in this place—
the tender memory of profound love seeps in like a dream.

Han Kang’s literature, which has portrayed the struggle and dignity of human beings advancing toward a single beam of light even in the dark,
now allows us to confirm with clarity the brilliant present it has reached.
Drawn from the memory of a not-so-distant tragic history, this is nevertheless a story of earnest and utmost love—what ultimately allows human beings to remain human—arriving with overwhelming beauty through searingly vivid images and graceful, poetic prose.

What Readers Say

“This novel goes beyond a simple historical record to revive the dignity of humanity and the memory of wounds that we must not forget.
Han Kang’s language is cool yet conveys warm consolation
prompting us to ask how individuals and society can stand in solidarity.”

Submission Format

• Length: 3–4 A4 pages (about 2,600–3,600 characters including spaces)
• File format : MS Word, PDF(body text 11pt, footnotes 10pt, line spacing 1.5 )
  ※ Please download and fill out the application form.
• Language: Korean
• File name : [Name_BookReview_Domestic/Overseas]

Suggested Examples

• Analyze and interpret the work’s themes from a contemporary perspective.
• Cite striking dialogue or scenes to discuss emotional and ethical meanings in depth.
• Evaluate how the work differs from prior literature, its relevance in today’s social context, and the message that it delivers to readers.

Evaluation Criteria

• Do the analysis and review sufficiently reflect the core themes and meanings of We Do Not Part?
• Based on understanding of the work, are new perspectives, critical viewpoints, and personal insights presented?
• Is the review developed with a logical structure, and do supporting evidence and expression assist in reader comprehension?
• Are structure, grammar, spelling, and formatting fully observed?
• Does it enable readers to empathize with the work’s meaning and appreciation, aiding in understanding?

Participant Information
(Ready for the Challenge?)

A critical review that offers an original interpretation of the themes and socio-cultural meanings of Han Kang’s We Do Not Part (2021, Munhakdongne).