Circular Residency | 2024 | Bucheon Residency | Project

2024 UNESCO Cities of Literature Circular Residency

The UNESCO Cities of Literature Circular Residency aims to strengthen connections among partner cities while enhancing the visibility of the UNESCO Cities of Literature network.
The program operates through a circular exchange system: each participating city sends one writer to another destination while simultaneously hosting a writer from a different city.
This structure creates a continuous cycle of artistic exchange, collaboration, and cross-cultural dialogue.

In 2024, Bucheon sent graphic storyteller Alfie Lee to Barcelona and welcomed writer Judy Quinn from Quebec City.

Alfie Lee (Bucheon->Barcelona)

In May, graphic novelist Alfie Lee participated in Barcelona's international literary residency as part of the UNESCO Cities of Literature Circular Residency.
During the residency, Lee attended the Barcelona International Comics Festival and related exhibitions, exploring the city's vibrant comics culture and building connections with local artists.

Judy Quinn (Québec->Bucheon)

<Judy Quinn>

Judy Quinn was born in Québec City in 1974. She published her first poetry collection, L'émonde, with Noroît in 2008. Since then, she has published more than a dozen novels and poetry collections. Her work has received numerous literary awards, including the Robert-Cliche Award for her debut novel Hunter s'est laissé couler and the Prix Radio-Canada for Six heures vingt. Through her writing, Quinn explores themes of place, memory, and family. Her latest novel, L'Étoile de la montagne (Leméac, 2024), imagines a world where borders are distant.

From August 24 to October 6, 2024, Judy Quinn was in residence in Bucheon, South Korea. Her stay was part of the UNESCO Cities of Literature Circular Residency, a collaborative exchange project involving five UNESCO Cities of Literature, including Bucheon and Quebec City.

During a workshop with students studying French at Somyeong Girls' High School, Judy shared her literary works, her life as a writer, and her experiences during her residency in Bucheon.