South Korean warm sci-fi author Kim Choyeop posed for a photo in her themed book exhibition area on the 3rd floor of the Main Library.

South Korean author Kim Choyeop (金草葉, 김초엽), with her book If We Can’t Travel at the Speed of Light, sparked a science-fiction novel trend in South Korea. Known as a representative of the elegant school of Korean sci-fi literature, Kim has built a vision of the future world with her warm words. Today (November 12th), at the Kaohsiung Municipal Library Main Branch, Kim shared her sci-fi world with the people of Kaohsiung at the 2023 Kaohsiung Reading Festival, under the theme "Science Fiction, How to Meet Other Worlds." This event also marked her first meet-and-greet in Taiwan, attracting hundreds of readers to experience the warmth of Korean sci-fi.
   
Kim Choyeop expressed her long-standing desire to meet with Taiwanese readers, as she had previously traveled to Taiwan with her family. Participating in the 2023 Kaohsiung Reading Festival also made the lecture her first in Taiwan, which was significant to her. During the lecture, she shared her love for writing and sci-fi, dreaming of becoming a scientist since childhood but eventually becoming a writer. Using scientific knowledge and sci-fi elements as the backdrop and character setting for her stories, she aims to lead readers to explore and experience different possibilities. She also emphasized that her stories incorporate contemplation on contemporary social issues without deliberately injecting her assertions, allowing readers to resonate and inspire self-understanding naturally.

Wang Wen-Tsui (王文翠), Director of the Bureau of Cultural Affairs and Chairman of the Board of Directors of KPL thanked South Korean 'phenomenal' new-generation warm sci-fi author Kim Choyeop for delivering the talk, "Science Fiction, How to Meet Other Worlds," to the people of Kaohsiung, perfectly aligning with the 2023 Kaohsiung Reading Festival theme--Reading Kaohsiung, Reading the World. She hopes people can see the world on different levels, with logical thinking, and encompass worldviews from different cultures through reading. In a society where diverse cultures coexist, readers can find their roots, understand, embrace differences, and experience the purest perception. KPL promotes reading in diverse forms, reaching not only the mainstream literary market but also various age groups and reading communities, attracting different types of new-generation authors and audiences, like Kim Choyeop, sparking widespread interest among readers. Most lecture attendees were fans of Kim Choyeop. They praised Kim for successfully integrating gentle emotions into a sci-fi setting, immersing readers in the story world, and allowing them to resonate with the story and characters.
 

Acting Director of KPL, Lin Yi-Cheng (林奕成), stated that in recent years, there have been numerous sci-fi works in South Korea, and he is delighted that this trend of warm sci-fi could debut at KPL. From Kim Choyeop's sharing of her novel creation, one can see her international perspective and worldview. As a Korean novelist who creates stories with Korean backgrounds and characters, Kim Choyeop also considers the problems that might arise in such settings. For example, how Koreans would communicate with the world if they spoke Korean but not English was a special topic shared in this lecture. Kim Choyeop's works are deeply touching, leaving readers feeling the warmth even after the story ends. This emotional impact also makes her readers eagerly await her new works for she always creates stories that move the readers.

Most of the attendees at the lecture were interested in Korean culture and sci-fi literature. Students from Wenzao Ursuline University of Languages with Korean backgrounds also participated, expressing their fondness for sci-fi novels, and having previously read Kim Choyeop's books. They found it rare for KPL to host such an event and thus made a special trip to attend. The 2023 Kaohsiung Reading Festival will continue for three weeks, featuring "a hundred lectures," organizing "Harbor Book Fair," "KPL’s Market on Meadow," and other activities. It allows various speakers, publishers, independent bookstores, and artisan brands to interact with the public while providing reading pleasure and hands-on experiences. The public can enjoy reading and fun of crafting while visiting the book fair. For more detailed information, please visit the official website of the Kaohsiung Reading Festival.

Kim Choyeop (金草葉, 김초엽) shared the sci-fi world with the people of Kaohsiung at the "2023 Kaohsiung Reading Festival" today (November 12th) at the Kaohsiung Municipal Library Main Branch, under the theme "Science Fiction, How to Meet Other Worlds." This event also marked her first meet-and-greet in Taiwan, held in Kaohsiung.

South Korean warm sci-fi author Kim Choyeop posed for a photo in her themed book exhibition area on the 3rd floor of the Main Library.

South Korean warm sci-fi author Kim Choyeop visited KPL’s Market on Meadow during the Kaohsiung Reading Festival.