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The Han Kang Effect Continues: Q1 2025 Bestsellers scrap download

여전히 이어지는 한강 신드롬, 2025년 1분기 한국문학 베스트셀러

「KLWAVE brings a diverse range of Korean literature to readers worldwide. “Best Sellers” features roundups of best-selling Korean literary works every quarter. Our first-quarter best sellers were selected based on the comprehensive consideration the list of best-selling books from three major Korean bookstore chains—Kyobo Book Centre, Aladin, and Yes24—covering January through March 2025.」

Last year, Korean literature received unprecedented attention both domestically and internationally amid what can only be described as “the Han Kang effect.” Han Kang's literary works have struck a profound chord across borders, achieving the extraordinary feat reaching million-seller status in record time following her Nobel Prize win. During the press conference at the Nobel Prize Museum in Sweden, Han Kang emphasized that "literature is not a luxury, but always a necessity." This was a timely reminder of literature's vital role in both our society and individual lives. Even in our fast-paced world and relentless daily routines, people still make time to read. The best-seller list for the first quarter of 2025 offers a chance to reflect on the "necessity of literature" in these times.

In the first quarter of 2025, Han Kang’s appeal and popularity remains undiminished. Even six months after her Nobel triumph, she remains a powerful presence at the center of Korea’s literary scene, with an astonishing six works—including her poetry collection I Put Dinner in the Drawer—in the top 10. Among them, Human Acts tops the list, powerfully addressing the indelible historical trauma while celebrating the indomitable human spirit. The Man Booker International Prize-winning The Vegetarian ranks second, while We Do Not Part, which explores the Jeju April 3rd Incident, sits at fifth, followed closely by I Put Dinner in the Drawer, The White Book, and Greek Lessons. The Korean literary world is currently experiencing a profound and lingering resonance under Han Kang’s name.

Beyond Han Kang, books addressing life’s meaning and happiness have captured readers’ attention. Taesu 's essay An Adult’s Happiness Is Quiet, which explores resilience in the face of unhappiness and inner contentment, resonated widely enough to secure third place. Yang Gui-ja's Contradiction, with its insight that life is not about exploring while living but living while exploring, ranked fourth. Jung Dae-gun's The Torrent, examining painful love and personal growth, maintained steady popularity at sixth place. Kim Keum-hee's The Grand Greenhouse Renovation Report blends ecological imagination with historical reflection against the backdrop of the Grand Greenhouse at Changgyeong Palace. Kim Kitae's Two People's International tackles contemporary social and ethical issues with depth and wit. Both works placed tenth and eleventh respectively, highlighting readers' unwavering interest in literature.

Bora Chung’s short story collection Your Utopia—a revised version of her 2021 collection To Meet Her—was released in January 2025. Its English translation, Your Utopia, was nominated for the prestigious Philip K. Dick Award, one of the world's three major science fiction literary awards, and the retitled Korean edition placed fourteenth on the best seller list, recapturing the interest of Korean readers after gaining attention overseas. Along with Your Utopia, recent releases in January and February also made strong showings: The essay collection A Suitable Person by Lee Chang-sub of the boy group BTOB reached twelfth place while the poetry collection A Tomato Firmer Than the Heart by Ko Sunkyung , known as a pioneer of the "text-hip" trend with her distinctively witty language, landed at thirteenth. Ye So-yeon’s The Dog and the Revolution, winner of the 48th Yi Sang Literary Award selected by prominent film critic Lee Dong-jin (known as the "idol of film criticism") selected as "the best book of March" ranked eighteenth, while Jae C. Choi's Conscience settled at twentieth place.


Here are the top 20 bestselling works of Korean literature for the first quarter of 2025.

1. Han Kang, Human Acts, Changbi Publishers, Inc.
2. Han Kang, The Vegetarian, Changbi Publishers, Inc.
3. Taesu, An Adult’s Happiness Is Quiet, Page2books
4. Yang Gui-ja, Contradiction, Write Publishing Co.
5. Han Kang, We Do Not Part, Munhakdongne Publishing Corp.
6. Jung Dae-gun, The Torrent, MINUMSA Publishing Group
7. Han Kang, I Put Dinner in the Drawer, Moonji Publishing Co., Ltd.
8. Han Kang, The White Book, Munhakdongne Publishing Corp.
9. Han Kang, Greek Lessons, Munhakdongne Publishing Corp.
10. Kim Keum-hee, The Grand Greenhouse Renovation Report, Changbi Publishers, Inc.
11. Kim Kitae, Two People's International, Munhakdongne Publishing Corp.
12. Lee Chang-sub, A Suitable Person, 21c Books
13. Ko Sunkyung, A Tomato Firmer Than the Heart, Yolimwon Publishing Group
14. Bora Chung, Your Utopia, Rabbit Hole
15. Jung Haeyeon, The Place of Flamingo, Elixir
16. Moon Sang-hoon, To Decide Not to Misunderstand What I’ve Said, Winnersbook
17. Yang Gui-ja, I Desire What is Forbidden to Me, Write Publishing Co.
18. Ye So-yeon, et al., The Dog and the Revolution (Winning Works of the 48th Yi Sang Literary Award, 2025), Dasanbooks
19. Kim Ae-ran, A Lie Among Truths, Munhakdongne Publishing Corp.
20. Jae C. Choi, et al., Conscience, The Class




Written by Seojeong Lee(Korean Literature Outreach Team)


Translated by Stella Haena Kim
Stella Kim is the recipient of the 2014 LTI Korea Award for Aspiring Translators and the 2016 Korea Times' Modern Korean Literature Translation Award, as well as multiple LTI translation grants and an Academy of Korean Studies grant. She has translated a number of short stories by authors including Gu Byeong-mo, Kang Hwa-Gil, Lee Kiho, Lee Jangwook, and Kim Seong Joong. Her book-length translations include Launch Something! by Bae Myung-hoon (2022, Honford Star) and Painter of the Wind by Lee Jung-myung (co-translated, 2023, Harriett Press). Her translations have appeared in Asymptote, Asia Literary Review, and Korean Literature Now. She currently works as a freelance translator and interpreter while teaching translation at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies.

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