KCCI Congratulates Amitav Ghosh on Being Awarded the Pak Kyongni Prize, Korea’s Top Literary Honour

–Amitav Ghosh Becomes First Indian Author to Win Korea’s Top Literary Honour – Pak Kyongni Prize

Korean Cultural Centre India congratulates renowned Indian author Amitav Ghosh for being awarded the prestigious 2025 Pak Kyongni Prize, Korea’s top literary honour. The award was established in 2011 in memory of South Korea’s literary giant Pak Kyongni (1926-2008) and is considered to be among Asia’s most esteemed international literary honours.

Amitav Ghosh, celebrated globally for his masterful storytelling and exploration of history, culture, and climate in works such as ‘The Shadow Lines’, ‘The Hungry Tide’, and ‘The Ibis Trilogy’, became the first Indian author to receive this distinguished recognition. He has been awarded the prize for “expanding the frontiers of postcolonial and ecological literature and for giving voice to subaltern subjects, including nature itself.”

As Korea and India celebrate their shared values through art, literature, and culture, the recognition of Amitav Ghosh stands as a proud moment for India and a testament to the enduring dialogue between two vibrant Asian civilizations. The Indian writer’s literary vision, bridging civilizational histories of Asia, resonates deeply with the Korean spirit of cultural empathy and global connection that the award embodies.

The Pak Kyongni Prize was established in 2011 by the Toji Cultural Foundation in Korea to honour writers whose works have made significant contributions to world literature that promote human values and cultural understanding. Past awardees include Marilynne Robinson, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, Ismail Kadare, Amos Oz and A.S. Byatt.

The grand event held at Wonju in South Korea on October 23rd was attended by distinguished guests including the Ambassador of India to the Republic of Korea, HE Gaurangalal Das. In a social media post after the event, Amitav Ghosh wrote, “It was an immense pleasure and honour to receive the 14th Pak Kyongni Prize for Literature from Mr Kim Sehee, Chairman of the Toji Cultural Foundation and a grandson of the great writer, Pak Kyongni, in a tasteful ceremony attended by many dignitaries including HE Gaurangalal Das, Indian Ambassador to South Korea, who made a fine speech.”

Hwang Il Yong, Director of Korean Cultural Centre India, said, “Korean Cultural Centre India warmly congratulates Mr. Amitav Ghosh on this remarkable achievement. The Pak Kyongni Prize reflects Korea’s deep respect for literature that connects people and cultures. Mr. Ghosh’s works, with their profound humanism and exploration of shared Asian narratives, strengthen the literary and cultural bridge between Korea and India.”