KBBY International Author Exchange Program: Meeting Readers and Korean Studies Students at SU
This program brings together two prominent Korean creators: Park Hyesun (b. 1969), who has spent years crafting children's stories, young adult novels, poetry, and picturebooks; and Lee Suyeon (b. 1982), one of Korea’s most active creators working across picturebooks, graphic novels, and children's book illustrations.
The two authors share a unique collaborative bond, having co-created four picturebooks: The Wish, The Guest Who Came to Our Village, The Big House, and Hello, Grateful Hands.
Rather than simply introducing them through separate roles as "writer" and "illustrator," this presentation focuses on how a single narrative expands into a completed picturebook through the distinct lenses of two creators. Tracing their four co-published works, the talk explores their collaborative process—moving beyond the social themes of the books to address a central question: "How did this story begin with Park Hyesun (writer), and how did it transform when it reached Lee Suyeon (illustrator)?"
Author Presentations
Park Hyesun: Turning Worldly Questions into Stories for Children—Why Picturebooks?
Park Hyesun discusses the process of translating contemporary social questions into child-accessible narratives through her books: environmental issues in The Wish, refugee and immigrant coexistence in The Guest Who Came to Our Village, modern human desires and happiness in The Big House, and wildlife conservation and respect for life in Hello, Grateful Hands. Centered around the core question—"How and to what extent can children’s books speak to societal issues?"—she will share insights into her broader creative work across children's poetry, fiction, essays, and Young Adult literature.
Lee Suyeon: From Single Images to Graphic Novels—Interpreting Text Visually
Focusing on her independent work across picturebooks and graphic novels, Lee Suyeon introduces her approach to visual storytelling. Using storyboards and behind-the-scenes draft materials, she will demonstrate how single images and sequential panels manipulate time, how textless scenes build narratives, and how emotions are conveyed without relying on explicit expressions or dialogue. Drawing on her experience teaching university students and emerging creators interested in fine art, illustration, and graphic novels, she will also speak about the creative concerns and interests of young contemporary Korean artists. Her talk will also include a live drawing presentation.
Besides, the KBBY team will exhibit a collection of 35 books awarded with the Korea picture book award (a national program of promoting picture books) from 2023-2026.
Last updated: 2026-10-20
Source: Department of Asian and Middle Eastern studies