SIBF 2026 24(Wed) - 28(Sun) June, 2026 l COEX Halls A&B1
Special Program
Lire la France
Lire la France is a chorus of voices, stories, and imaginations, where diversity shines as a driving force. From intimate narratives to bold ideas, from playful images to critical inquiry, French creation unfolds across genres, generations, and perspectives.
Rather than a single point of view, France offers a constellation of expressions: children’s literature that sparks curiosity, graphic novels that reinvent storytelling, fiction that captures the complexities of the world, poetry that distills emotion, and works in the humanities and social sciences that question and illuminate our times. This creative landscape also extends to gastronomy and philosophy—two essential ways of thinking, sharing, and experiencing the world.
Shaped by dialogue and nourished by plurality, contemporary French literature reflects a richness of backgrounds, disciplines, and artistic approaches. It invites readers not only to explore stories, but also to navigate ideas, forms, and ways of seeing.
As Guest of Honor at the Seoul International Book Fair 2026, France celebrates this diversity through a program that crosses boundaries and opens pathways between genres, audiences, and cultures. Korean visitors are invited to wander through this vibrant literary ecosystem, discovering, at every turn, new voices, new stories, and new ways of engaging with the world through books.
■ Lecture & Book Talk
[Food Talk] French & Korean Gastronomic Traditions: How do World Cuisines and Culinary Cultures Shape our Personal Stories?
Gastronomic journalist François-Régis Gaudry, the author of “Paris Food Encyclopedia,”
joins translator Kang Hyun-jeong and chef Yoon Hwa-young to explore how food and identity shape the stories we tell through cooking.
ㅣSpeaker: Kang Hyun-jeong (Translator), Yoon Hwa-young (Chef), François Régis-Gaudry (Food Journalist, Author)
ㅣModerator: Kim Moonyoung (Editor)
- Date/Time: June 24 (Wed) 14:30 - 16:00
- Venue: Readers Hall 1
Imagination and Translation: Bridging Stories Across Cultures
Bernard Werber joins translator Jeon Miyeon for an intimate conversation
about writing and translation surrounding his new book “Waltz of Souls.”
Together, they explore how imagination and language transcend borders, bringing stories to readers across cultures.
ㅣSpeaker: Bernard Werber (Author)
ㅣModerator: Jeon Miyeon (Translator)
- Date/Time: June 25 (Thu) 14:00 - 15:30
- Venue: Book Salon
Imagining the World, Facing the World: Korea–France Children’s & YA Literature in Dialogue
Marie-Aude Murail, Anne Laval and Lee Suzy explore how they balance imagination and real-world issues in children’s literature.
ㅣSpeaker: Marie-Aude Murail (Author), Anne Laval (Author), Lee Suzy (Author)
ㅣModerator: Park Jaeyeon (Critic of Children’s Literature)
- Date/Time: June 25 (Thu) 16:30 - 18:00
- Venue: Readers Hall 1
Seasonal Minds: Crafting Your Own Philosophy of Life
Pascal Bruckner and translator Lee Sejin share a moment of reflection on life and philosophy.
ㅣSpeaker: Pascal Bruckner (Author, Philosopher)
ㅣModerator: Lee Sejin (Translator)
- Date/Time: June 26 (Fri) 13:00 - 14:30
- Venue: Readers Hall 2
Paris Whispers to the Future of Korean Cities
To celebrate the publication of the new book “Paris Whispers of a Sustainable City — Dreaming of an Ancient Future,”
this event invites readers to reflect together on the questions explored in its pages.
Paris is a city of romance, but it is also a city that has been relentlessly reimagining sustainability
through centuries of experimentation, still evolving to this day.
Korea has captivated the world with K-Culture, yet we ourselves still find it hard to say we are truly happy.
The answer lies in the spaces we inhabit every day.
ㅣSpeaker: Kim Seonghun (Architect, CEO of GEEUMPLUS)
- Date/Time: June 27 (Sat) 13:00 - 14:00
- Venue: GoH Stand Main Stage (A601)
Victor Collin de Plancy : between France and Korea
Stéphanie Brouillet, Chief Heritage Curator and specialist in East Asian art,
presents her bilingual French–Korean book, which traces the story of Victor Collin de Plancy,
a French diplomat who played a key role in introducing Korea to the Western world at the end of the 19th century.
Drawing on her expertise and experience within French heritage institutions, she offers an in-depth analysis of this historic encounter.
ㅣSpeaker: Stéphanie Brouillet (Art Historian)
- Date/Time: June 27 (Sat) 16:00 - 16:20
- Venue: GoH Stand Main Stage (A601)
The Narwal, or the Korean Adventures of a French Whaler
Join author Pierre-Emmanuel Roux for a presentation of his essay,
which retraces the story of the French whaler Narwal's shipwreck off the coast of Korea in 1851,
and the rescue expedition led by Charles de Montigny, the first French consul in Shanghai.
ㅣSpeaker: Pierre-Emmanuel Roux (Historian)
- Date/Time: June 27 (Sat) 16:25 - 16:45
- Venue: GoH Stand Main Stage (A601)
DMZ: Walking and Reflecting on the Korean Border
Valérie Gelézeau presents her book, which explores the question of repairing spaces
and lives in Korea’s Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), 70 years after the division of the peninsula.
Join her as she recounts her experience of a 500 km walk along the Peace Trail, opened in 2024, to study this complex border.
ㅣSpeaker: Valérie Gelézeau (Geographer)
- Date/Time: June 27 (Sat) 16:50 - 17:10
- Venue: GoH Stand Main Stage (A601)
Ants and Humans: Questioning and Answering Each Other
Choe Jae-chun, one of Korea’s leading behavioral ecologists and
author of “Secret Lives of Ants,” joins Bernard Werber, the novelist who captivated readers around the world with “Les Fourmis.”
Together, these two distinguished thinkers examine human society through the eyes of ants.
Drawing on insights from ant behavior and social evolution, they reflect on the path humanity should take today,
considering what we can learn from the ecological characteristics and collective wisdom of ants.
ㅣSpeaker: Bernard Werber (Author), Choe Jae-chun (Chairman of Biodiversity Foundation, Honorary Professor at Ewha Womans University)
- Date/Time June 28 (Sun) 10:30 - 12:00
- Venue: Book Salon
French & Korean Poets in Dialogue: Giving Voice to Humanity
Poets Linda Maria Barros, Thomas Vinau, Park Sangsoon, and Ra Taejoo explore and read their work
on how poetry reveals the human voice, reflecting on identity, memory, and shared human experience.
ㅣSpeaker: Ra Taejoo (Poet), Linda Maria Baros (Poet), Park Sangsoon (Poet), Thomas Vinau (Author)
- Date/Time: June 28 (Sun) 11:30 - 13:00
- Venue: GoH Stand Main Stage (A601)
■ Seminar & Round Table
AI, Ethics, and Copyright: Challenges for the Publishing Industry
Publishing experts from Korea, France, and Taiwan discuss the ethical challenges,
copyright issues, and practical applications of AI in the publishing industry.
The roundtable explores how AI is reshaping the future of writing, editing, and the reading experience.
ㅣSpeaker: Nicolas Roche (Director of France Livre), Doris Chen (General Manager of Linking Publishing Co., Ltd.), Lee Young-wook (Lawyer, Comics Author)
ㅣModerator: Kim Hak-Hee (Executive Director of Korea Literature, Academic works and Arts Copyright Association)
- Date/Time: June 24 (Wed) 12:30-14:00
- Venue: Readers Hall 1
[Round Table] Reading Futures: Public Policy Across France and Korea
In the age of AI, how can we build a reading society and cultivate thoughtful citizens?
Publishing experts from Korea and France come together to explore reading as a cultural right and a foundation of society,
while discussing public policies for a sustainable reading ecosystem.
ㅣSpeaker: Kim Jinwoo (Director of the Book Culture Promotion Division, Publication Industry Promotion Agency of Korea), Son Jeoung-soon (Vice-President of the Korean Publishers Association), Solenn Marrec (MAE)
ㅣModerator: Nicolas Roche (Director of France Livre)
- Date/Time: June 24 (Wed) 16:30 - 17:30
- Venue: GoH Stand Main Stage (A601)
[Round Table] Drawing Memory: Korean–French Graphic Novel Dialogue
Korean and French graphic novel artists discuss how illustration in graphic novels brings memory, history, and personal stories to life.
ㅣSpeaker: Keum Suk Gendry-Kim (Author), Uy-Vinh Landru (Artist)
ㅣModerator: Kim Sun-mi (Director of the Manhwa Content Office, Korea Manhwa Contents Industry)
- Date/Time: June 26 (Fri) 15:00 - 16:00
- Venue: GoH Stand Main Stage (A601)
[Round Table] Presenting Humanities and Social Sciences Research on Korea to the General Public
Korean studies have been developed in France since the time of Collin de Plancy and remain highly dynamic.
Four Koreanists discuss the ways in which their academic research can be shared with a wider public.
ㅣSpeaker: Valérie Gelézeau (Geographer), Stéphanie Brouillet (Art Historian), Pierre-Emmanuel Roux (Historian)
ㅣModerator: Benjamin Joinau (Publisher, Director of L'Atelier des cahiers)
- Date/Time: June 27 (Sat) 17:15 - 18:15
- Venue: GoH Stand Main Stage (A601)
[Round Table] L’Atelier des Cahiers: 20 Years of Publishing
20 years, 100 books on Korea: L'Atelier des cahiers presents its history, landmark titles, and upcoming publications.
ㅣSpeaker: Valérie Gelézeau (Geographer), Stéphanie Brouillet (Art Historian), Pierre-Emmanuel Roux (Historian)
ㅣModerator: Benjamin Joinau (Publisher, Director of L'Atelier des cahiers), Alexandre Haym (Publisher)
- Date/Time: June 27 (Sat) 18:15 - 18:30
- Venue: GoH Stand Main Stage (A601)
■ Workshop Program
[Gourmet experience] Gourmet Journey to Brittany with La belle-iloise
A gourmet journey to Brittany with La Belle-Iloise.
Discover the rich culinary heritage of Brittany through French cookbooks and
a tasting of La Belle-Iloise's premium seafood specialties.
- Date/Time: June 24 (Wed) 16:00 - 17:00
June 28 (Sun) 11:00 - 12:00
- Venue: GoH Stand (A601)
[Children Worskhop] Stories in Pictures
This workshop offers children a playful introduction to the French language and culture through youth picture books.
Combining readings in French and Korean with creative activities, it encourages participants to listen, draw, and develop their own stories.
Led by a French-speaking and a Korean-speaking instructor, the session invites children
to explore stories from France and engage in creative expression in a bilingual environment.
- Date/Time: June 25 (Thu) 16:00 - 17:00
- Venue: GoH Stand Main Stage (A601)
[Workshop] Charcoal Drawing: From Nature to Art
Through a reading of the book “Charcoal, Tracing the Soul of Trees,” and with the help of an activity booklet,
author and illustrator Zoé Constans invites you to learn about charcoal drawing,
and to experiment with its artistic potential through a specific focus on nature.
This workshop will be followed by a book signing session.
ㅣSpeaker: Zoé Constans (Author-illustrator)
- Date/Time: June 26 (Fri) 16:30 - 17:30
- Venue: GoH Stand Main Stage (A601)
[Worskhop] Discovering French: First Words for Adults
Have you always wanted to learn French? This workshop is made for you!
In just a few minutes, discover your first French words and learn how to greet people, introduce yourself,
count, and pronounce familiar words like croissant, baguette, champagne, or Louis Vuitton.
A simple, fun, and accessible experience open to anyone who wishes to take their first steps in French.
- Date/Time: June 27 (Sat) 10:30 - 11:15
June 28 (Sun) 10:30 - 11:15, 14:30 - 15:15
- Venue: GoH Stand Main Stage (A601)
[Workshop] Sensory Seasons: Creative Workshop with Anne Laval
Author and illustrator Anne Laval invites both children and adults to create a small fold-out book
about their favorite season, using a set of stamps she designed herself.
This workshop is linked to her picture book “Ce qui nous lie”(What Binds Us),
which explores the relationship between a little girl and her grandmother through the four seasons.
This workshop will be followed by a book signing session.
ㅣSpeaker: Anne Laval (Author)
- Date/Time: June 27 (Sat) 15:00 - 16:00
- Venue: GoH Stand Main Stage (A601)
■ Book Signing Event
Bernard Werber's Book Signing Event
Book signing event for the new release “La Valse des âmes”(Waltz of Souls).
- Date/Time: June 27 (Sat) 11:30 - 12:30
- Venue: GoH Stand Main Stage (A601)
François Régis Gaudry's Book Signing Event
Book signing event for the new release “Paris Food Encyclopedia.”
- Date/Time: June 27 (Sat) 14:00 - 15:00
- Venue: GoH Stand Main Stage (A601)
Marie-Aude Murail's Book Signing Event
Book signing event for “Sauveur et fils, Saison 1.”
- Date/Time: June 28 (Sun) 13:30 - 14:30
- Venue: GoH Stand Main Stage (A601)
