Hwang Sok-Yong

Born in 1943, Hwang Sok-yong is arguably Korea's most recognized and renowned author. In 1993, there was international outcry when Hwang was sentenced to seven years in prison for an unauthorized trip to the North to promote exchange between artists in North and South Korea. In 1998, he was released on a special pardon by the new president. The recipient of Korea's highest literary prizes and shortlisted for the Prix Femina Estranger, his novels and shorts stories are published in North and South Korea, Japan, China, France, Germany, and the United States.