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Labor Day Reads: Will Tomorrow's Sun Shine Upon Us Too?
근로자의 날을 기념하며: 우리에게도 내일의 태양이 뜰까요?
The term “work-life balance,” which signifies the balance between work and life, is every worker’s dream. Who wouldn’t want a lifestyle where one can pursue work suited to their talents and skills, gain fulfillment and social recognition, lead a comfortable life fueled by the earned income, and have plenty of personal time for hobbies and personal growth? The reality, however, is often far from such ideals. Many workers find themselves stumbling through each day as the balance between work and life crumbles. Especially since the global rise of neoliberalism, which emphasizes labor flexibility, workers have grappled with constant employment insecurity, fierce competition, and the need to prioritize survival above all else.
Yet, labor inherently holds undeniable value and meaning that cannot be denied or suppressed. In spite of being pushed to work for income, even amidst its arduous and burdensome nature which strains both body and mind, workers discover vitality and hope for a better tomorrow within their work. And Korean poets and novelists have actively engaged in capturing and depicting both the light and shadow of such labor.
Reinvestigation by Chang Kangmyoung
Chang Kangmyoung, a member of the literary group known as “salary realism,” co-authored an anthology titled Thank You for Your Efforts (2023) with fellow authors, focusing on the theme of today’s labor. In Chang’s short story collection, The Living, he vividly portrays the multifaceted economic and social realities drawing from his journalist background. Meanwhile, in his full-length novel Reinvestigation, Chang brings to the forefront detectives pursuing the perpetrator of an unsolved murder case from 22 years ago. Given the author’s background as a journalist, the meticulously researched novel realistically depicts the working methods of homicide detectives. Similar to any other working individual, even in the face of demanding work and performance pressure, the characters in the story support each other as they strive toward their goals. Turning the pages, readers are immersed in the world of detectives, a realm otherwise foreign to most.
Duck Dive by Lee Hyeonseok
Lee Hyeonseok is a writer and practicing physician whose first short story collection, Even in Another World (2021) features works that reflect his medical background. Lee’s first full-length novel, Duck Dive, is set in a Korean surfing camp in Bali, with the main characters being women who formerly worked as nurses in Korea. One character is a victim of the harassment culture prevalent among nurses in Korea, known as taeum, which literally translates to “burn” and has recently emerged as a social issue. The other character is someone who, to some extent, condoned or even participated in such harassment. While the surface narrative revolves around surfing lessons, the novel critically examines and reflects on the abusive practices embodied by the taeum culture, and illustrates journey of the main characters as they navigate through these challenges and move forward together.
Kang Jeongmin The Juice Delivery Woman by Kim Hyeonjin
This novel was inspired by the author’s own experience of working as a juice delivery person for nearly two years. The protagonist, Kang Jeongmin, is not directly employed by the juice company she works for: she is a contracted salesperson receiving commission. As a female worker, she faces various forms of mistreatment such as bullying, sexual harassment, and humiliation from clients, on top of the unstable income due to her precarious status. While alcohol serves as her sole escape from troubles and frustrations, she clings to her dream of becoming a webtoon artist and finds strength in supportive friends, persevering through each day without succumbing to despair. Young readers of this era, leading lives not so different from Kang Jeongmin’s, will find themselves rooting for the character as they read, and in doing so, may also find strength and encouragement for their own lives.
Lee Nanyeong The Future Lawyer by Kwon Yusu
In 2077, as people increasingly favor android lawyers over their human counterparts, protagonist Lee Nanyeong boldly confronts AI lawyers. This novel delves into the tumultuous trials faced by the main character, whose rural twang and shabby office do little to bolster her credibility. While she battles an android lawyer in court on behalf of a client advocating against selective memory erasure surgery, as a mother, she grapples with intense conflict over her daughter Morae’s dream to upload her consciousness to the cloud to escape physical pain. Lee Nanyeong, self-proclaimed as a technophobe—and acknowledged as such by others—endeavors to explore the possibilities of infusing human “hearts” into androids, both in her professional and personal life.
Work Log by Lee Yonghun
This poetry collection serves as a field report on the instability of employment and labor in this era. Various labor scenes, reflecting the poet’s own experiences, such as demolition work for redevelopment, apartment construction, terminal cargo handling, sewage cleaning, care for patients in closed wards, and motel cleaning, appear somewhat distant from a sense of dignity or fulfillment. Instead, these sites are fraught with the risk of injury and death caused by accidents. These are the sites shunned by Koreans, and nowadays largely occupied by migrant workers—a reality faithfully portrayed in Work Log. Unlike the vociferous labor poems of the 1980s, this collection resonates deeply simply by presenting the unembellished truth of reality.
Written by Choi Jaebong
Choi worked as a literary journalist at the Hankyoreh newspaper from 1992 to 2022. He has written books such as Inquiry: How Writers Work, Stories Live Long, Writers of the Mirror World, and translated works such as Elegy for Earth, Pushcart’s Complete Rotten Reviews, and Journey to the beginning (Egar Snow’s memoir). After retiring in 2022, he has been working as a freelance senior journalist, writing articles on literature and publishing.
Translated by Kim Soyoung
Soyoung is a translator specializing in literature and film. After a decade of corporate life in public relations, she now immerses in translating works that resonate with her.Her recent translations include stage plays Sunlight Shower and This is Home by Jang Woojae, and she is currently translating a novel for young adults.Soyoung majored in English interpretation and translation at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies and studied business administration at the Graduate School of International Studies at Yonsei University. She completed a two-year government-funded literary translation course at the Literature Translation Institute of Korea (LTI Korea).Soyoung won Grand Prize in the film category of the Media Translation Contest organized by LTI Korea in 2021.
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Comfort Meets Cool: Q1 2024 Bestsellers from Korea
익숙함이 곧 트렌드가 된, 2024년 1분기 한국문학 베스트셀러를 만나보세요.
Korean literature in the first half of 2024 was led by readers’ choices going for all that is familiar. Marigold Mind Photo Studio proved to be the only book published in 2024 to have ended up on the bestsellers list, but that too was on the heels of Marigold Mind Laundry, the first edition of the series and a bestselling book from 2023. While this may mean that there are many a book from the past years that the readers love, it is also a sign that there are no wildly popular books coming out of 2024 yet. Amid the continuing publishing slump, there's a trend towards 'safe choices', focusing on proven authors, revised editions, and books that have already tasted success once, like series novels.
Author Choi Eunyeong has definitively established herself as the writer to look out for. Topping the bestseller list in the first quarter of this year, even with a Very Faint Light follows the author's previous works Shoko's Smile, Harmless Person to Me, and Bright Night, demonstrating the richness of her brand of literature by once again reaching the top of the bestseller list. The literary merit proven through previous works has established a solid fan base for the author, positioning her as a star novelist who garners both critical acclaim and market attention with each new release. However, on the other hand, the phenomenon of established authors' new works being well-received highlights the challenges emerging authors face in the publishing industry.
Apart from this silent exodus of emerging writers, books that are new and breathe fresh air into the literary world have become increasingly difficult to find in recent times within publishing circles. Instead, there has been a rise in revised editions of past works with new covers and edits. Yang Gwi-ja's Contradiction (2013), which ranked third on the bestseller list in the first half of the year, was first published in 1998, and Choi Jin-young's Proof of the Skeleton (2023), which ranked 13th, was also first published in 2015. Son Won-pyeong's Almond (2023) (ranked 21st), published in 2017, was also reissued as a revised edition last year.
To add to this, so-called “healing novels,” which provide warm comfort in familiar spaces of everyday life, like The Uncomfortable Convenience Store, Marigold Mind Laundry, Welcome to Hyunamdong Bookstore, and Dollargut Dream Department Store, have been steadily maintaining their positions on the bestseller lists for several years. This too has become a trend.
The continued stagnation of the publishing market has played a significant role in the consistent popularity of familiar and long-standing novels. It seems that in the ongoing downturn, re-releasing works by popular authors or with popular titles is a realistic way to reduce deficits and drive sales.
Written by Han So Bum
A journalist of Hankook Ilbo and the writer of book review articles for the Korean literature newsletter “Munhak.”
Translated by Snigdha Gupta snigdhagupta9@gmail.com
Snigdha is a literary/academic translator residing in Korea. An ex-fellow of KLTI and a Korean Government scholar, Snigdha bridges gaps not only through her Korean to English translations, but also as a full-time communication specialist in the government sector.
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5 Books to Celebrate Earth Day: Even If the Earth Should Perish
지구의 날 특집: 멸망한 지구가 오더라도
As we went through the pandemic, we realized that everything was connected – humans, animals, plants, the planet, and we are all connected. And we learned the hard way that because of such connection, surviving on our own was something entirely impossible.
Now that we have recovered our daily lives, however, we seem to be neglecting something that must not be forgotten: while convenience and speed once again try to triumph over inconvenience and slowness, the earth is being ruined beyond repair. With global temperatures rising, glaciers melting, ecosystems collapsing, and the diversity of nature rapidly declining, now is the time for us to think about what we must do and take action. We must ask ourselves if we are truly considering climate change as a problem of our own, a problem that we must address.
The literary works we will be introducing today describe such contemplation and reflection. In celebration of Earth Day, we will be featuring literature that depicts the earth of our present and future, poems and novels that reflect on ourselves as part of nature, and works that explore and question how we can live together as we grapple with issues of caring for one another in a time of climate crisis. Let us remember that we are all breathing in the earth that is here and now, and must hold our hands out for one other.
Gong Hyeon-jin, "The World Is Going to End Anyway" in The 15th Anthology of Award-winning Young AuthorsI, Munhakdongnae, 2024
Gong Hyeon-jin’s novel The World Is Going to End Anyway depicts our desire to be always one step ahead of others and how that very desire has ruined the world and then ourselves, all through Kwak Ju-ho and Moon Hee-ju, who always come last in the beginners’ swimming lessons for adults. Hee-ju and Ju-ho do not believe that the article about the missing bees has nothing to do with them, and they do not believe in trampling on others to get ahead. They will go “as far as they can” with someone whom they can “share a hot meal with” and share the memories, even in a world that is perishing anyway. The novel says, “to sink together and to disappear together – even that’s love.”
Chung Serang, "Reset" in Take My Voice, Arzak, 2021
“Reset,” a short story included in Chung Serang’s collection of science fiction Take My Voice, illustrates a gigantic earthworm who is one day sent to destroy and renew human civilization. The story of a scientist who sends gigantic earthworms to tear down concrete buildings and lazy cities to slow down the destruction of the earth makes us think about the possibility of putting a stop to humanity’s rampage in the age of climate crisis. In the earth that has been reset, humanity does not reign over other species anymore; instead of benefiting from an uncomfortable abundance, humans enjoy a peace of mind.
Kim Sun-woo, My Warm Ghosts, Changbi, 2021
My Warm Ghosts, Kim Sun-woo’s book of poetry, firmly calls for everything to stop. In the face of the crisis put upon the earth and the environment, Kim's poetry warns us that it is time to stop, as we have become insatiable in our desire for more and more. The reality of animals being killed with no respect or dignity for their lives is what humans will soon be facing. In times of climate crisis, Kim Sun-woo’s poems seem to tell us that what poetry can do is to “cry on behalf of readers.” The community of the vulnerable described in her poems makes us imagine the possibility of a sustainable future.
Moon Tae-jun, Thoughts of the Morning, Changbi, 2022
Moon Tae-jun’s collection of poetry Thoughts of the Morning makes us stop for a moment to experience the beauty of a slow blank in time. The universe of Moon’s poetry is a world where there is no hierarchy, but solidarity. By making readers imagine how humans and nature can exist in harmony, Moon’s poetry makes us imagine a sustainable life as we live through the era of the climate crisis. Reading Moon Tae-jun’s poems makes us realize that we are not isolated individuals, but beings that are connected to one another. This collection of poetry will make readers encounter a beautiful world created by a poet who grew up in mountains and fields among flowers, trees, and birds.
Kim Hye-soon, If the Earth Dies, Whom Will the Moon Circle?, Moonji, 2022
Winner of the Griffin Poetry Prize and the National Book Critics Circle (NBCC) Awards, poet Kim Hye-soon illustrates the death of her mother and the earth in her 14th collection of poetry, If the Earth Dies, Whom Will the Moon Circle? Through the personal experience of her mother’s death and the experience of the pandemic, the poet imagines a solidarity of grief. Having lived through a pandemic that forced everyone to “cover all openings in one’s face when going out” to feel with her skin death that was prevalent everywhere, Kim calls the earth “the theater that activates the extinction of humanity.” The poetry creates a solidarity of grief, where the absence caused by death and the sense of loss shed tears together.
Written by Lee Kyung-soo
Literary critic, professor at Chungang University. Debuted as the winner of the Munhwa Ilbo New Wrtier’s Contest in 1999. Most notable works include Festival of Unsettling Imagination, Contemporary Korean Poetry and the Aesthetics of Repetition, The Descendants of Babel Walking in the Ruins, Dancing Shadows, The Poems After, You Can Be Anything Beyond Yourself, Rereading Baek Seok Poetry, Times of Reading Baek Seok Poetry, Poems Yet to Come, among others.
Translated by Si-Hyun Kim
Shannon is an interpreter and translator with expertise in a wide array of domains ranging from literature and popular culture to advanced technology. She has provided translations for various esteemed corporations and institutions, including NAVER Corp, SBS, LG Electronics, Samsung Electronics, and HUFS GSIAS.
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The Pulse of Korean Literature: New and Timeless Releases for January-February
박동하는 한국문학, 새롭고 또 여전한 1~2월 신간도서입니다.
KLWAVE introduces international readers to various works of Korean literature. “New Releases” showcases works that have been published between January and February 2024, selected by Kyobo Book Centre as “Book of the Month” and by Aladin as “Magician’s Choice.”
Among the diverse works by writers beloved for many years and today’s emerging young artists, KLWAVE focuses on new releases between January and February, introducing colorful stories that will touch readers’ hearts in unique ways.
Park Wansuh, a Korean literary guru renowned for her timeless fame and whose works have been translated into various languages around the world, has returned with the revised edition of her essay collection, So As Not to Feel Love by Weight . Ra Taejoo, a renowned Korean poet known as the “Poet of Flowers” and recommended by BTS to international readers, has also published a simple yet sincere essay collection titled Because I Like It . Also, the labor poet Park Nohae, who caused a sensation in the 1980s with sales of 1 million copies of his first poetry collection, has returned with his first autographical essay, Tear-flowering Boy.
There were also remarkable works by young writers who have quietly crafted their own solid fictional worlds. Writer Choi Jin-Young, who captivated the literary world with her works Dear Sister and To the Warm Horizon, both translated into various languages, made a comeback with a new book titled Aurora: What Happens When You’re Caught? Baik Sou Linne, who has maintained her position as a novelist of light, greeted both old and new readers with the revised edition of her first short story collection, Falling in Paul, after a decade.
Meanwhile, some of today’s most candid stories are also being enthusiastically welcomed. To Decide Not to Misunderstand What I’ve Said by Moon Sang-Hoon, the creator of BDNS with 1.4 million subscribers, not only generated a buzz prior to its publication but also became a bestseller immediately after its release. Also, the million-seller writer Lee Kiju contemplates resilience despite life’s burdens in his latest work Ordinary Words, maintaining the popularity he gained from his previous book The Temperature of Language.
Some works demonstrated the power of seductive storytelling and were undoubtedly “loved”. Cho Hae-jin's I Met Loh Kiwan delicately portrays each character's pain and wounds, leading to the discovery of solidarity, freedom, and ultimately hope. This work has been getting renewed attention after being adapted into the Netflix movie My Name Is Loh Kiwan. Meanwhile, Yun Jungeun’s Marygold Mind Laundry has not only achieved bestseller status in Korea but has also been exported to 28 countries, including English-speaking ones, proving itself as a leader in “feel-good fiction.” It continues to expand its fantasy world with the new Marygold Mind Photo Studio.
Translated by Jasmine Jeemin Lee (KLWAVE - Translators Jasmine Jeemin Lee)
Jasmine Jeemin Lee is a professional translator based in Korea. Born in Texas, she grew up moving back and forth between Korea and the U.S. She earned her BA in International Studies from Ewha Womans University and graduated from its Graduate School of Translation and Interpretation. She won the 2019 Korea Times Modern Literature Translation Award and has since translated a diverse genre of Korean works into English. Her book-length translations include Lee Hyugjin’s Terms of Love (Sarang-ŭi ihae) and Lee Suyeon’s Two Friends on My Shoulders.
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Five Korean Books Anticipated by KLWAVE Users
KLWAVE 독자들이 보고싶어하는 작품 5종
KLWAVE regularly gathers user comments and publishes customized content.
Novelist Hwang Sok-yong’s acclaimed work, Three Generations of Railway Workers (Cheoldowon samdae), has been longlisted for The International Booker Prize, a prestigious UK literary award. The book was translated into English and published in 2023 under the title Mater 2-10, with the support of the Literature Translation Institute of Korea. The International Booker Prize celebrates fiction around the world that has been translated into English, and The Vegetarian, by author Han Kang, became the first Korean novel to receive this honor in 2016.
In light of the growing interest in Korean literature around the world, KLWAVE wishes to introduce literary fiction that have not yet been translated and published in other languages.
The featured works have been selected through a global reader poll conducted on the KLWAVE platform of the Literature Translation Institute of Korea, highlighting the novels most eagerly anticipated by readers for translation.
Spanning from spine-chilling mystery thrillers to heartwarming coming-of-age tales brimming with love, this selection offers a diverse array of stories that have enthralled readers worldwide. KLWAVE hopes that these gripping novels, with their vivid narratives, will be translated into more languages and embraced by readers across the globe.
My Dead Husband Has Returned / Je Indo
The author Je Indo, known for exploring diverse genres, garnered much anticipation for My Dead Husband Has Returned, with the novel being confirmed for film adaptation even prior to the novel’s release. This enthralling novel draws in readers with its intricately woven, twist-filled narrative. Hyosin, the protagonist, eagerly awaits the opportunity to start her life over after disposing her husband’s dead body, and receiving insurance money. However, on the day of her husband’s official declaration of death, a man appears, claiming to be her late husband, Jaewoo. In a strange turn of events, Hyosin ends up living with the stranger who claims to be her deceased spouse. The narrative, filled with deceit, betrayal, and vengeance, unfolds from Hyosin’s perspective in Part 1 and from the purported husband’s viewpoint, Jaewoo, in Part 2.
I Did My Best / Jeong Sejin
Jeong Sejin invites readers to her whimsical world again: following the success of I’m Not That Bad a Person, her first short story collection defying conventional wisdom and norms, Jeong presents I Did My Best, a new compilation of seven tales, replete with delightful surprises and unexpected turns. From the discovery of a 100 billion won inheritance and twenty-eight bodies by a family after their father’s disappearance in “To Escape the Forest, Take Another Path,” to the narrative of a character groomed to impersonate a global star in “I Did My Best,” each story is eerie yet oddly comforting. These narratives, surreal yet grounded in reality, intricately twist and engage the readers’ senses.
The Flooding Warning / Seol Jaein
In Seol Jaein’s thought-provoking novel, The Flooding Warning, Seoul finds itself in the grip of an unusually prolonged monsoon season in 2023. Against this backdrop, aspects of modern society emerge that can no longer be ignored. Within the story, inhabitants of Seoul endure perpetual rainfall, relying on a device called “Nubis” to shield themselves from getting wet. While Nubis is hailed as a waterproof solution to the relentless rain and a safeguard against pollution, one dissenting voice stands out: that of protagonist Hyein’s grandfather. Leading Hyein into Tonghyeopdong, her grandfather exposes her to a side of Seoul she has never encountered. Through Hyein’s newfound awareness of these hidden spaces and her grandfather’s life outside the confines of Nubis, readers are compelled to confront uncomfortable truths and poignant realities. Moreover, they may uncover the subtle acts of kindness and altruism hidden beneath the surface of ordinary people.
Wait for the Wind / Lee Oksu
Lee Oksu’s novel Wait for the Wind encapsulates the coming-of-age journey of a young girl as she grapples with her identity, stumbles upon unexpected truths, and unravels the essence of love. While on a month-long trip to India with her aunt, middle schooler Hangang encounters a world unlike any she’s known before: where meals are eaten by hand and the Ganges River serves as both a bath and cremation site. In these unfamiliar surroundings, Hangang reflects on love and acknowledges life's transience, where footprints are swept away by the wind. Hangang’s inadvertent unveiling of her true identity invites readers to introspect within a world abundant with secrets, both big and small. As it did for Hangang, someday readers might also learn to peer beyond these secrets, uncovering truths and embracing love in the breeze.
2084 Jigu Nanmin (Earth Refugees) / Song Jeongyang
“In 2084, Earth met its demise.” Song Jeongyang’s 2084 Jigu Nanmin (Earth Refugees) depicts the interstellar journey of a family forced to flee as refugees, escaping Earth on the brink of annihilation. Once a thriving green paradise, Earth has transformed into a barren yellow star, its once-lush landscapes now replaced by desolate sands due to environmental degradation. Gangsan embarks on a quest to find a new home on a distant planet, passing through refugee camps to eventually land on Mars. By introducing the concept of Earth refugees, previously non-existent in history, this novel sounds an alarm about the reality that anyone could face displacement due to climate crises. It provides a glimpse into a future Earth beyond repair. The exodus from Earth depicted in the story serves as a stark reminder that escalating environmental degradation is not a distant concern but an urgent existential challenge confronting humanity today.
Translated by Kim Soyoung
Soyoung is a translator specializing in literature and film. After a decade of corporate life in public relations, she now immerses in translating works that resonate with her.Her recent translations include stage plays Sunlight Shower and This is Home by Jang Woojae, and she is currently translating a novel for young adults.Soyoung majored in English interpretation and translation at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies and studied business administration at the Graduate School of International Studies at Yonsei University. She completed a two-year government-funded literary translation course at the Literature Translation Institute of Korea (LTI Korea).Soyoung won Grand Prize in the film category of the Media Translation Contest organized by LTI Korea in 2021.
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Seoul in K-Literature: The Past Edition
서울이 소개되는 한국문학: 과거편
In a survey conducted by LTI Korea on social media, “Literature that Allows You to Experience Korea” has been selected as the theme in Korean literature that readers desire to know the most. For those who want to learn more about attractions, food, and culture in Korea, KLWAVE has prepared its first series: “Seoul in K-Literature.” This series captures the past, present, and future of Seoul, and in this particular section, we introduce some Korean literary works that stage the past appearance of Seoul.
Park Taewon / A Day in the Life of Kubo the Novelist / Moonji Publishing Co. (Korea) / 2009
A Day in the Life of Kubo the Novelist shows how a day spent wandering around the streets of Seoul can teach you so much about a person’s life. Much like Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway which tightly showcases the landscape of London in a single day, A Day in the Life of Kubo the Novelist richly presents the overall landscape of Seoul through a day of a person. The scenery of Seoul depicted by an observant novelist with meticulous attention is beautiful yet fascinating.
Park Wansuh / The Naked Tree / Segyesa (Korea) / 2012
The Naked Tree tells the story of a family living with a trauma from the Korean War. The mother of the protagonist leaves her home in the countryside and moves to Seoul with a single goal in mind: to successfully raise her children in Seoul. There, she ekes out a meager living for the family, but much against her wish, the protagonist and her brothers aren’t given the happiest lives. The protagonist finds hope in life, however, when she meets a painter who makes beautiful paintings despite the tragedies of the war. Na-mok, the original Korean title of The Naked Tree, means bare tree with no leaves and only branches remaining.
Kim Seongok / Seoul-1964-Winter / Moonji Publishing Co. (Korea) / 2019
“Seoul-1964-Winter” shows the landscape of Seoul during the early stage of industrialization. The coincidental encounter between three male characters in the story serves as an opportunity for them to share their feelings of anxiety and loneliness, but it fails to prevent the tragic incident that happens to one of them at the end. The novel carefully yet strategically maps the complex psychology of the people in Seoul during this particular period and the deepening anxiety and loneliness they experience as rapid industrialization continues.
Kim Aeran / Run, Daddy, Run / Changbi Publishers Inc. (Korea) / 2019
“I Go to the Convenience Store” featured in Run, Daddy, Run tells the story of young people living in Seoul who stop by convenience stores every day to buy various types of snacks and products. Seoul is known as the city with the highest number of 24-hour convenience stores in the world, and those who make daily visits to one of these stores located everywhere in the capital and the wealthiest city of South Korea may initially be given the relief that they are, indeed, the “Seoulites.” However, the novel poignantly yet realistically portrays that these people, in truth, maybe the ones leading some of the most unstable and loneliest lives.
Jeong Yihyeon / My Sweet Seoul / Moonji Publishing Co. (Korea) / 2006
My Sweet Seoul is about a young woman living in Seoul with hopes for love, marriage, friendship, and success, but who often faces disappointment and loneliness on the way, showing what the reality looks like. Likewise, everyone dreams of launching a successful career or having a romantic love story in their life. Much like a coming-of-age novel, however, My Sweet Seoul teaches readers through the protagonist’s journey that no one can ever be fully satisfied at work or in relationships, and that no matter how much one tries, there will always be things that remain unobtainable. The abundance of culture, consumerism, and materialism governing the city of Seoul is well depicted in this novel.
Written by Jeong Yeoul
The host of “Jeong Yeo-ul’s Library” on KBS Radio.Currently active on channel “Salon de Muse” on Naver Premium Contents. The host of “Monthly Jeong Yeo-ul” on Naver Audio Clip.The author of Literature O’clock, To Me Not Taking Care of Me, The Use of Travelling, The Right to Study, Top 10 Places I Loved in Europe, Things I Wish I Had Known Back Then, Vincent, My Vincent, The Road to Hesse, and An Introverted Traveller. Jeong Yeo-ul’s book, One Short Psychology Class a Day has been translated into Vietnamese and Chinese; Even Your Scars are Beautiful into Indonesian; and The Courage to Finish a Story into Chinese.
Translated by Jenny Chang
Jenny Chang is a freelance translator currently based in Seoul. A Korean diaspora who was mostly raised in Canada, she graduated from the University of British Columbia with a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies and completed her study at the Literature Translation Institute of Korea. While actively pursuing her career in the field of international education for five years, Jenny came to find value in languages and their pivotal role in promoting a cordial understanding between different cultures.
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드라마화 된 K-소설
The term drama-seller has sprung into prominence only in the last few years. While movies and dramas based on novels have been around for decades, never before has visual media exerted such a strong influence on the book market as it does in the current age.
With webtoons skyrocketing in popularity, dramas based on these digital comics are the most promising newcomers in the market. Despite this, novels continue to be at the very center of storytelling. While romance novels were often turned into dramas in the past, these days even genres like thrillers and science fiction are carving their niche on the television, thanks in part to advancements in computer graphics. Reading a Korean novel today offers us a sneak peek into what may very well be a drama in the future.
Given how stories from Korea are achieving global reach via streaming services like Netflix, Korean literature is likely to receive even more love from creators worldwide. As visual media continues to expand into larger markets, Korean literature is expected to follow suit.
Ju Young-ha, "Happiness Battle", Goznuck ENT(Korea) 2023
The drama "Sky Castle" was a sensational hit that depicted, quite provocatively, Korean society’s extraordinary obsession with education and the resulting tears in the fabric of society. "Happiness Battle" is a novel that seems to build upon this element of provocation. Written by Ju Young-ha, it tells the story of people who have no need for more happiness yet engage in a "Battle for Happiness" The battleground is social media. In a high-end Gangnam apartment, Kang Do-jun is found stabbed in the back and barely alive, while his wife is discovered dead, hanging from the balcony railing. Jang Mi-ho discovers that the deceased wife is Oh Yu-jin, a friend she became estranged from 17 years ago. They were best friends in high school but grew apart after an incident. Unable to shake off her guilt over what happened long ago, Jang Mi-ho begins to investigate her friend's death. She learns that Oh Yu-jin had been engaged in a 'Happiness Battle' on social media with other English kindergarten moms. As Jang Mi-ho begins to unravel the mystery, shocking truths come to light.
Lee Hyuk-jin, "The Interest of Love", Minumsa(Korea), 2019
Lee Hyuk-jin's "The Interest of Love" boldly exposes themes of money and class, seldom focused on in romance novels. It centers around four individuals working at a bank, each hailing from a different social stratum. They include a regular full-time banker who is the only daughter of a wealthy family, another full-time banker from a prestigious university but less affluent background, a high school graduate working part-time, and a temporary security guard preparing for employment. Their relationships don't flow freely according to emotional inclinations; rather, they sway tumultuously based on their backgrounds and job statuses. The novel vividly depicts an array of emotions produced by love, from excitement and elation to insecurity, inferiority, pride, jealousy, and resentment. Its fresh approach has won it lasting admiration. Particularly noteworthy is the seamless adaptation of this novel into a drama, a feat unlikely to be easily replicated.
San Kyung, "Reborn Rich", Terracotta(Korea), 2022
Many viewers were unaware that "Reborn Rich," arguably South Korea's most successful drama in 2022, originated from a novel. The web novel, released in a massive five-volume paper edition, boasted immense popularity during its 2017 serialization. It could simply. be described as a "revenge reincarnation" story: a man wrongfully killed after serving 13 years in a corporate conglomerate comes back as the youngest grandson of the family that killed him, vowing to take revenge and claim their empire. However, what truly fuels the book’s popularity is the realistic portrayal of family dynamics, despite its fantastical elements. The intricate tales of power struggles for inheritance in a family of wealth and influence, evoking comparisons to the Samsung empire, make it nearly impossible for readers to put the book down.
Kim Jinyoung, "A House with a Yard", ELIXIR(Korea), 2018
"Lies Hidden in My Garden" is about the serendipitous meeting of two women and the salvation that ensues. Juran is a homemaker in what appears to be an ideal family, with a doctor husband and an intelligent, handsome son. Despite relocating to the 'perfect house,' Juran detects a peculiar odor in the yard, which becomes the catalyst for ensuing events. On the flip side, the other woman, Sang-eun, grapples with a life of poverty and domestic abuse. She manages to escape from her husband but finds herself pursued by the police, until she encounters Juran, who offers her an escape route. The persistent tension throughout the narrative owes itself to the story's parallel structure as a detective novel, seeking to identify a murderer. The high-quality drama adaptation, featuring experimental visuals rarely seen in Korean dramas, is also not to be missed.
Jung Han-ah, "Intimate Stranger", MUNHAKDONGNE Publishing Corp.(Korea), 2017
With the success of the drama "Anna," Jung Han-ah's "Intimate Stranger" became a bestseller, defying odds more than five years after its publication. The story centers on a perplexing character named Lee Yumi. She has an eclectic resume—working as a magazine editor at a university she never graduated from, serving as a piano professor without ever setting foot in a music school, and even practicing as a doctor without certification. Additionally, she has lived life as the wife of three different men and as the husband of one woman. The narrator, who had previously abandoned writing, becomes increasingly fascinated by Yumi's complex life. Driven by curiosity, he starts to write again, chronicling Yumi's mysterious whereabouts. Unlike the drama where Suzy plays the role of Yumi living under the alias 'Anna,' the novel circles around the author-narrator as he delves into unraveling the enigma that is Yumi. The novel intricately sketches the many faces of a character living a life riddled with deception. It appears to satirize the modern individual who navigates existence wearing masks, ensnared in the web of public perception and reputation.
Written by Seul-ki Kim
Journalist at the culture & sports department at Maeil Business Newspaper. Kim has been covering literature and publishing since 2012, writing book reviews.
Translated by Snigdha Gupta
Snigdha is a literary/academic translator residing in Korea. An ex-fellow of KLTI and a Korean Government scholar, Snigdha bridges gaps not only through her Korean to English translations, but also as a full-time communication specialist in the government sector.
** Publishers, agencies, and editor members can also review copyright information through the following link.
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독자들의 뜨거운 사랑이 여전한 힐링 소설! 감동과 위로가 가득한 2023년 2분기 한국문학 베스트셀러를 만나보세요.
「KLWAVE features content to introduce a diverse range of Korean literature to overseas readers. This year, we will introduce the best-selling Korean literature every quarter.KLWAVE’s second-quarter best sellers were selected based on the comprehensive consideration of the list of best-selling books provided by two Korean bookstore chains and the list of most borrowed books provided by the Korean Library Association from April to June 2023. 」
Just like in the previous quarter, the popularity of novels that offer solace and “healing” power continues to thrive. This quarter, a diverse array of books has captured attention, ranging from older works that have been brought back into the spotlight to a collection of award-winning works showcasing the talents of the most notable young writers in Korea’s current literary stage.The domination of Uncanny Convenience Store remains unyielding, with Kim Hoyeon’s Uncanny Convenience Store and its sequel, Uncanny Convenience Store 2, securing the first and third places on the bestseller list. Additionally, Marigold Mind Laundry and Dallergut Dream Department Store have also garnered love from readers, while Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookstore emerged as a new bestseller, indicating a steady demand for what is commonly known in Korea as “healing novels.”
The collection of works awarded Munhakdongne’s “2023 New Writer Award” has also captured the attention of readers. The winning works collection, which has been published annually since 2010, has become a representative book introducing the most promising new Korean novelists to readers.Father’s Liberation Diary, penned by Jung Jia ranked fourth last quarter, has climbed two spots to become the second overall bestseller this quarter, solidifying its position as a steady seller.
Meanwhile, Cheon Myeongkwan’s Whale, originally published in 2004, has recently gained renewed attention after twenty years, by being short-listed for the 2023 International Booker Prize, one of the world’s three major literary awards.
In essays, books by renowned figures such as Yeosu Sister, a YouTuber, Kim Hyeja, a seasoned actress, Son Woongjung, a football coach and father of football player Son Heungmin, as well as former anchor Sohn Mina, have won the hearts of readers.
Written by Han So BumA journalist of Hankook Ilbo and the writer of book review articles for the Korean literature newsletter “Munhak.”
Translated by Kim SoyoungSoyoung is a freelance translator residing in Korea. After a decade of corporate life, she now works with global PR agencies and international organizations on translation and transcreation projects.
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Must-Read Mysteries and Thrillers for Hot Summer Days
무더운 여름 꼭 읽어야 하는 미스터리/스릴러 작품을 소개합니다
Summer is the prime time for Korean literature. Literary fiction publishers pour out big-name novels that will drive sales for the rest of the year just ahead of the summer vacation season – all in hopes that vacationers may pick up a novel as they go off to their much-needed break, and because a novel does not come off as too pricey even for those who happen to stop by a bookstore at the airport. Some of the best-selling novels in the past 3 years, including Farewell by Young-ha Kim, Bright Night by Eun-young Choi, Dallergut Dream Department Store by Mi-ye Lee – and 28 by Yu-jeong Jung if you go a little more back in time – were also published in summer to remain best sellers towards the end of the year. In particular, for Korean readers who have to endure what feels like an eternity of humid summer nights, nothing beats the chills from genre fiction like thrillers and mysteries. As Korean TV dramas and films garner worldwide popularity, the genre of Korean literature is going beyond what used to be confined to pure literature. Below are some of the best new mysteries and thrillers from younger authors with fresh writing, big ideas, and gripping thrills, all of which will hit the shelves this summer.
The Midnight Timetable / Bora Chung
The Midnight Timetable is the latest work from Bora Chung, the first Korean science fiction writer whose work was shortlisted for the International Booker Prize, the most prestigious literary award in the U.K. This collection illustrates a series of 7 stories that take place at a suspicious laboratory which stores and manages an unidentifiable object. The stories are thrilling and chilling enough to make the heat of summer nights endurable, but it also leaves behind a warm feeling that will resonate with the reader. This is because the author’s signature themes of curses and revenge do not simply illustrate the good and evil, but also extend a warm hand to the weak, minorities, and nonhumans. It is a terrifying story that is oddly comforting. “Writing the book was like going to an amusement park. I had a lot of fun writing it,” said Bora Chung, the author.
Waiting for High Tide / Yae-eun Cho
This is the newest novel from Yae-eun Cho, whose Cocktail, Love, Zombie has garnered much enthusiastic support from young readers. Her lighthearted horror thrillers with a spoonful of happy endings have even earned her the nickname “Yae-eun Cho World.” The novel begins with Jung-hae receiving news that their childhood friend Woo-young has committed suicide by throwing themselves into the ocean at high tide. Unable to believe that Woo-young, who has always said they wanted to be buried in the mountains, would throw themselves into the ocean, Jung-hae follows their track to dive right into the heart of the cult Young-san Church. Just as the tide reveals the mudflats, the black sea at high tide gradually reveals the real secret of Youngsan Church and Woo-young. A sharp satire of religious madness behind the social phenomenon, this is an absorbing novel that is driven by the protagonist's desire to reunite with their friend, even if it means relying on superstition and prayer.
At a Coin Laundry at 2AM / Hyun-ju Park
This book is the latest addition to My Occult Days, a series of mysteries written by Hyun-ju Park. Written in first-person narrative, “I” still writes an occult column for a magazine while solving paranormal cases that come their way. Like a detective, “I” solves ominous cases of a woman suddenly appearing in a closed coin-operated laundry; a mirror that shows the future husband of a person; a lover from a previous life that appears near the end of a person’s life; a bat that shudders in search of things that a filmmaker has lost; and a cursed doll for revenge. The book is a collection of short stories that each deal with a different theme, but a central mystery that runs through them connects all cases. Being a renowned translator of numerous mystery novels including those by Truman Capote and Charles Bukowski, the author has successfully created a unique Korean story by adding occult elements on top of the foundation of a classic detective novel.
Servant School 1 / Yi-eun Kim
Seo-jeong Han thought she had succeeded in leading a normal life after leaving her turbulent days in the past – only to have everything completely shattered when she is accused of fraud, embezzlement, and murder. Overcome with fear, she follows the advice of her childhood friend Jin-wook Lee and visits “Servant School.” Hidden underground in a corner of the cypress forest that separates the luxury resort Solaz from the outside world, Servant School is as grand as an extravagant mansion or a six-star hotel, and as dreary as a tattered old housing complex. The goal of students at Servant School is to sneak into the life of a chaebol family as servants and eventually become the master of the chaebol family. Those void of happiness, glory, or hope – they are the ones who arrive at Servant School. Servant School is a novel in which Yi-eun Kim’s storytelling shines through as she coldly and thrillingly depicts the lives of those who try to break through the walls of social class and become part of the inner circle.
Runaway / Se-ah Jang
Runaway, which can be described as a “Korean gothic thriller,” is a full-length novel by Se-ah Jang, who worked as a publicist for a luxury brand for a long time. The short story she submitted to the Kyobo Story Contest was recognized and turned into a full-length novel, recommended by Kyobo Bookstore. On the first train in the early morning, Jae-young accidentally comes across a young mother in the train compartment while on the run. The mother disappears, leaving behind her baby and a note that urges Jae-young to take the baby to her family-in-law. Jae-young is overwhelmed by the grandeur of the Western-style mansion when she visits the mother’s family-in-law in order to fulfill her wish. After lying about being the baby’s mother, Jae-young forgets about her predicament and adjusts to her role as the eldest daughter-in-law of a wealthy family, but when she discovers the enormous secrets this seemingly prosperous family has been hiding, she realizes she has made a fatal mistake.
Written by Seul-ki Kim
Journalist at the culture & sports department at Maeil Business Newspaper. Kim has been covering literature and publishing since 2012, writing book reviews.
Translated by Shannon Kim
Shannon is an interpreter and translator with expertise in a wide array of domains ranging from literature and popular culture to advanced technology. She has provided translations for various esteemed corporations and institutions, including NAVER Corp, SBS, LG Electronics, Samsung Electronics, and HUFS GSIAS.
** Publishers, agencies, and editor members can also check the copyright information along with the following link.https://klwave.or.kr/klw/rights/34/publishersView.do
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Introducing KLWAVE's Bestsellers of the 1st Quarter!
KLWAVE 1분기 베스트셀러를 소개합니다.
KLWAVE features content to introduce a diverse range of Korean literature to overseas readers. This year, we will introduce the best-selling Korean literature every quarter.KLWAVE’s first-quarter best sellers were selected based on the comprehensive consideration of the list of best-selling books provided by two Korean bookstore chains and the list of most borrowed books provided by the Korean Library Association from January to March 2023.
The trend of so-called “healing novels,” which has been gaining popularity for several years, continues to thrive this year. There were new releases by some leading Korean novelists, such as Kim Hoon, Kim Young-ha, Kim Yeonsu, and Choi Eunyoung, and novels that have been reevaluated by readers for various reasons.One of the most prominent keywords for the best sellers in the first half of the year is “the books that made a comeback.” Some of them received little attention upon their release but have now gained renewed attention from readers for various reasons.
Lee Hyukjin’s romance novel Sarangui Ihae (Understanding Love), published in 2019, has recently received attention due to the popularity of its drama adaptation with the same title. Choi Jin Young’s Guui Jeungmyeong (Gu’s Proof), which was published in 2015 and initially sold only about 2,000 copies a year, is experiencing a resurgence since last year by word of mouth, selling 50,000 copies in the first quarter of this year and a total of 150,000 copies to date.
Following last year, the best seller list features a balanced representation of “healing novels” such as Dalleoguteu Kkum Baekhwajeom (DollarGut Dream Department Store), Bulpyeonhan Pyeonuijeom (The Inconvenient Convenience Store), Chaekdeului Bueok (The Kitchen of Books), and Merigoldeu Maeum Setakso (Marygold Mind Laundry), which provide warm comfort with their background setting in familiar spaces we encounter every day. In particular, Bulpyeonhan Pyeonuijeom (The Inconvenient Convenience Store) not only topped the list in the first half of the year, as it did the previous year, but its sequel Bulpyeonhan Pyeonuijeom 2 (The Inconvenient Convenience Store 2) also ranked third, further contributing to the popularity of “healing novels.”
The latest novels by renowned authors, who play a significant role in Korean literature, have also received love from readers. Kim Hoon’s Haeolbin (Harbin), Kim Young-ha’s JakbyeolInsa (Farewell Greetings), and Kim Yeonsu’s Itorok Pyeongbeomhan Mirae (A Future as Ordinary as This) have been acknowledged by readers for their remarkable literary qualities. Balguen Bam (Bright Night), the first full-length novel by Chio Eunyoung, who enjoys overwhelming support from female readers and is establishing herself as a “young master,” is steadily gaining popularity. Jeong Ji A’s Abeojiui Haebangilji (Father's Liberation) has captivated not only middle-aged readers but also young readers as her witty sense of humor skillfully handles the tragic subject matter of Korean modern history through the story of a communist partisan.
Written by Han So BumA journalist of Hankook Ilbo and the writer of book review articles for the Korean literature newsletter “Munhak.”
Translated by J NohJ Noh is a specialized translator in the fields of art, literature, and subculture. Her translation expertise encompasses critical writings, subtitles, and catalogs for esteemed institutions such as the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Korea, Asia Culture Center, and Gwangju Biennale. Additionally, she has contributed to the translation of various PC games.
