Korea will be spotlighted as the guest of honor at the Paris Book Fair, to be held March 16-20 at the Paris Expo Porte de Versaille exhibition center, where a selection of Korean works will be displayed and some of the country’s most influential writers will be holding talks, the Korean Publishers Association said in a statement Wednesday.

Some 60 works by 30 Korean authors will be featured, including the esteemed Hwang Sok-yong, who wrote the novel “Evening Star,” and Han Kang, whose novel “The Vegetarian” has been gaining both critical and popular acclaim overseas. Diverse genres of literary works will be represented, including children’s books, webtoons and cartoons.

During the four-day book fair, the participating authors will hold talks with readers and those from the publishing industry. They will touch on the themes of Korean literature and society in the age of globalization, female Korean writers, violence and modernity.

Among the highlights is a dialogue on March 17 between Hwang and Chilean writer Luis Sepulveda on the topic of literature and memory.

Major Korean publishers including publisher Munhakdongne, children’s books publisher Yeowon Media, and Noonbit, which specializes in photography and visual arts, will participate in the trade show segment of the annual book fair.

Separate sections for webtoons, e-books and Grafolio, an illustration-based platform, will also be set up.

The Paris Book Fair is considered the biggest book event in Europe, featuring some 4,000 authors from around the world.

According to the Korean Publishers Association, Korea hopes to use the Paris Book Fair as a benchmark for the Seoul International Book Fair slated for June. The Paris event is also an opportunity to network with foreign publishers and determine the demand for Korean works abroad, the statement added.

By Rumy Doo (doo@heraldcorp.com)