The Toji Cultural Foundation said on the 29th that it had selected South African novelist Damon Galgut as the winner of the 15th Park Kyung-ni Literature Prize.
Galgut is a writer who has delicately captured South Africa's historical realities and the lives of individuals living within them. He made his debut in 1982 with his first novel, "A Sinless Season," and drew international attention when "The Good Doctor" was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 2003. He cemented his standing as a world-class author by winning the Booker Prize in 2021 for "The Promise." The prize's jury praised Galgut's literary achievement in exploring, in depth, the questions of memory, responsibility and justice that the contemporary world faces universally, reaching beyond the specific time and place of South Africa.
The Park Kyung-ni Literature Prize was established in 2011 to honor the literary spirit of Park Kyung-ni (1926-2008), author of the epic novel "Land" and other works. Open to novelists worldwide, it is awarded to writers who have upheld the intrinsic value of literature and left a major mark on world literary history. The prize carries an award of 100 million won ($72,000). Past recipients include Choi In-hun, Marilynne Robinson, Amos Oz, Yun Heung-gil, Sylvie Germain and Amitav Ghosh.
The award ceremony will be held on Oct. 29 at the Hotel Inter-Burgo Wonju.
