Author Yang Shuang-zi Emphasizes Taiwan-China Differences Following Sunflower Movement in Seoul Talk

CNA Seoul, June 1. Taiwanese author Yang Shuang-zi held a media roundtable in Seoul today. When asked by Korean media about the significance of the 2014 Sunflower Movement, Yang stated that the movement directly influenced her themes as a creator, noting, 'I wanted to emphasize exactly how Taiwan is different from China.' Yang, who won the International Booker Prize for her novel 'Taiwan Travelogue' with translator Goldie Wang, has been in Seoul since May 28. She explained that the 318 movement was a critical social event for her and her peers, clearly shaping their future literary direction. Yang noted that before the movement, many people identified as both Taiwanese and Chinese, but after the Sunflower Movement, more people shifted to identifying solely as Taiwanese. This shift influenced many creators to focus on stories that only Taiwan could tell. Yang also announced that due to her busy schedule, she will not accept any speaking invitations until 2029 to focus on writing two new novels.