hankyoreh

March 12.

At 4 p.m. on March 12 in front of Arts Council Korea (ARKO) located in Seoul’s Daehangno neighborhood, writers began an unusual public reading ceremony.

The Writers Association of Korea (WAK), a progressive association of writers, held the ceremony in place of publishing its periodical “Artists Open Tomorrow.” WAK has suspended publication of the periodical in protest of the fact that ARKO is demanding a letter of confirmation that applications for government subsidies will not participate in or lead demonstrations. The writers engaged in readings of their poetry and novels that would have been published in the periodical. WAK made the decision not to publish Artist Opens Tomorrow on Feb. 24.

Choi Du-seok, executive editor of Artists Open Tomorrow said, “We have decided not to accept subsidies for the periodical’s publication in protest of ARKO’s policy of demanding a confirmation letter in which writers must confirm that they will not participate in or organize demonstrations.” Choi added, “We think this is a policy in which the government is gagging writers’ conscience.”

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]