Korean author Ko Jung-wook, illustrator Lee Suzy nominated for 2025 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award

Author Ko Jung-wook / Courtesy of 1person1book

Korean authors Ko Jung-wook and Yoo Eun-sil, along with illustrator Lee Suzy, have been nominated for next year's Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, a prestigious global children's literary award.

The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award was established by the Swedish government in 2002 to commemorate Swedish children's book author Astrid Lindgren, best known for her Pippi Longstocking series.

Illustrator Lee Suzy / Courtesy of BIR Publishing

The award annually selects recipients from living authors and illustrators or existing institutions who create literary works for children and young adults. Among Korean artists, author and illustrator Baek Heena, famous for her 2004 bestselling book "Cloud Bread," won this award in 2020.

The organizer announced that a total of 265 candidates from 72 countries have been nominated, and the laureate will be announced on April 1, next year.

Among the Korean nominees, Ko has consistently published works that give hope and courage to Korean youth, authoring multiple bestsellers such as his series "Quick-tempered Jaeseok."

As a person with a learning disability, he has drawn empathy from readers of diverse backgrounds through stories and characters who are dealing with disabilities.

"I express my deepest gratitude to readers who have continuously shown love and support for children and young adults," Ko said through his agency 1person1book. "I will continue to deliver stories that give readers courage and hope."

“He gives hundreds of lectures a year to children and young people on topics such as disability awareness education (while also) meeting with authors,” Kim Jun-ho, head of the author's agency, said. "The goal of his life is a world where people live together."

Another nominee, Lee Suzy has gained global attention for her works such as "The Zoo," "Wave," "Shadow" and "Summer." Lee has won numerous awards, including the 2022 Hans Christian Andersen Award, an award named in commemoration of the 19th-century Danish author Hans Christian Andersen.

Fellow nominee Yoo has published works appealing to various reader groups, from young adult novels to picture books, including "My Teacher Lindgren" and "Lee Yujeong the Perfect."

Notably, Yoo is also known as a fan of the late Swedish author, having been deeply impressed by Lindgren's books.