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| Writer Kim Keum-hee Korea Times file |
By Park Ji-won
Some recipients of the 44th Yi Sang Literary Award, one of the most prestigious literary awards in Korea, refused to accept their runner up prize criticizing unfair practices in publication contracts, sparking a debate over copyright on literary works.
Writer Kim Keum-hee, the runner up of the award who is best known for "Kyung-ae's Heart," said she was listed as a runner up of the award but refused to take it as the award's contract forced her to transfer her copyright on her writings to the organizer for three years.
"I got a phone call yesterday that I was listed among the winners. I was happy at first. But when I read the (prize) contract, I felt terrible." Kim Tweeted on Saturday, further stating that the prize required her to adjust her contract, giving copyright of her award-winning short novel to the organizer for three years.
"The contract said that I cannot use my novel as a title piece nor include it in a book… Is it that hard to change the contract? Is this how the company's show respect to the writers and their efforts? I know my remarks may not be beneficial (to me), but if I don't raise my voice, the writers' creations will be trapped in the word 'copyright transfer.'"
It is very rare for the winners of the prize to refuse to accept the award.
Another novelist Choi Eun-young, author of "Shoko's Smile" who also won the runner up prize of the award, reportedly said she also refused to accept the prize for the same reason as Kim.
According to the publishing company and previous winners, the licensing term was included in the contract since the 43rd Yi Sang Literary Award last year. With Kim's comments going viral, the organizer decided to delete that certain term on the licensing from the contract.
The award was established in 1977 to commemorate prominent modern writer Yi Sang's achievements. The yearly collection archiving the short- and medium-length novels of the winners of the award has been published each year in January.
