Bucheon City of Literature

Mike Meginnis is the author of the novels Drowning Practice (Ecco, 2022) and Fat Man and Little Boy (Black Balloon, 2014). His short story "Navigators" was selected for The Best American Short Stories 2012. He currently serves as Communications Manager for the International Writing Program at the University of Iowa in Iowa City.

During his residency in Bucheon from November 16 to December 30, 2024, Meginnis worked on his forthcoming novel, Pain Is Incredible, while exploring the city and learning about Korean culture. At the end of December, he gave a talk to a group of high school students, sharing how a regular writing practice can enrich everyday life. He emphasized that writing helps us become more attentive to the people and places around us, allowing us to better understand the world and discover beauty in our daily experiences.

Pierre Bisiou was born in France in 1965. As a publisher of contemporary literature, he directed Le Serpent à Plumes, where he introduced readers to authors from more than one hundred countries, including Korean novelist Han Kang, recipient of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature. In 2019, he founded Matin Calme, a publishing house dedicated to Korean literature, publishing works by authors including Seo Mi-ae and Kim Un-su.
Bisiou also collaborates with Choi Kyungran to translate Korean literature into French. Together they have translated works by Han Kang, Chung Bora, Cho Nam-joo, Lee Mi-ye, Jeong You-jeong, Kim Un-su, Ha Il-ji, Kim Young-ha, and many others.

He participated in the Bucheon Residency from November 16, 2024, to January 4, 2025. Following Han Kang's Nobel Prize announcement, Bisiou led a cultural workshop in Bucheon on the reception of Korean literature in France. Drawing on his extensive experience as a publisher and translator, he discussed the growing international interest in Korean literature, answered participants' questions, and shared insights into the global publishing landscape.