French media are spotlighting South Korean books and authors in their reports about the Paris Book Fair, for which South Korea was named the guest of honor. The book fair kicked off on Wednesday in the French capital.

The French daily Le Monde said in a special report Friday that shamanism and animism coexist with modernity in Korea and are lending forces to its literature.

Le Monde introduced South and North Korean literature over two pages and also included an interview with South Korean novelist Hwang Sok-yong. Two of his books were published in French this month including "A Familiar World."

Another local daily Le Figaro said the Paris Book Fair is serving to introduce South Korean literary works that are not well known in France.

The newspaper also took an interest in short story collections by North Korean authors. Le Figaro said that contemporary North Korean writers praised the value of corporatism in a collection of short stories titled "Laughter of 17 People" recently published by the French firm Actes Sud. 

With South Korea as the guest of honor, 30 Korean authors of literature, comics and webtoons are attending the four-day book fair that continues through Sunday. The list includes Hwang Sok-yong, Han Kang, Lee Seung-u and Kim Young-ha.