Diplomacy Journal David Kendall 기자 | 

The Embassy of Guatemala in the Republic of Korea, in coordination with the Institute of Latin American Studies of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS) and the Instituto Cervantes in Seoul, held a tribute to the Guatemalan writer and diplomat Miguel Ángel Asturias, Nobel Prize in Literature 1967, as part of the commemorative year dedicated to the laureate.

The event, held on December 8  at the Instituto Cervantes in Seoul, was inaugurated by the institution’s representative, Renata Yujeong Hur, who highlighted the universal relevance of Asturias’s work and his enduring legacy within the Spanish-speaking literary tradition.

The Ambassador of Guatemala, Sara Angelina Solís Castañeda, delivered opening remarks and presented a conference on the life, literary achievements, and diplomatic career of Miguel Ángel Asturias, underscoring his role as a cultural bridge between Guatemala and the world, as well as his commitment to identity, social justice, and literary creation.

The Director of the Institute of Latin American Studies at HUFS, Dr. Shin Jeong-hwan (Tomás), offered remarks emphasizing the influence of the Guatemalan author on Latin American literature and the continued resonance of his work among new generations of readers in Korea.

As part of the tribute, Ambassador Solís Castañeda symbolically presented the principal works of Miguel Ángel Asturias to the Cultural Affairs Officer of the Embassy of Spain, Mr. Raúl de la Rosa Machado, who accepted them on behalf of the Instituto Cervantes in Seoul. The gesture was in recognition of both institutions and their cultural cooperation.

To conclude the program, attendees enjoyed an exhibition of traditional Guatemalan attire, along with a tasting of Guatemalan cuisine, offering diplomats, students, academics, and members of the Korean public an opportunity to experience the country’s cultural richness.

The event was attended by ambassadors from Latin American countries, former ambassadors of the Republic of Korea, members of the Diplomatic Corps, Korean professors and students, as well as the Director of the Department of Spanish at HUFS. The Embassy of Guatemala expresses its deep appreciation to all participants for joining this tribute to the 1967 Nobel Laureate in Literature, whose work remains a benchmark of universal literature.