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Timeless Values and Power of Prose Shine Through in Q3 2024 Bestsellers
시대불문의 가치, 문장의 힘을 보여준 2024년 3분기 베스트셀러
“What comes after YouTube? Could it be paper books again?” This question, posed by author Han Kang during her lecture at the 2019 Seoul International Book Fair, feels more relevant than ever today. Among teens and twentysomethings worldwide, i.e., Gen Z, a new phenomenon termed “text hip” is increasingly taking hold—they share images of themselves reading on YouTube and other social media, and quote favorite books and passages. For this generation of digital natives, print has interestingly become a trendy medium. Indeed, the latter half of this year has truly been about the “power of prose.” When Han Kang was named the 2024 Nobel Literature Prize winner in October, the world buzzed with excitement. People lined up at bookstores to purchase her books and flocked to libraries to read. Sales of literary works by other Korean authors have also risen, signaling a welcome and heartening movement.
Among Q3 bestsellers in Korean literature, several backlist titles that emerged as popular reads last year have maintained their top positions. While such older titles typically see declining sales over time, Contradiction and Gu’s Proof have secured 1st and 6th place respectively, suggesting their staying power on the bestseller list. These “trusted reads,” with their elegant yet delicate prose and timeless, relatable passages, continue to draw new readers regardless of their publication date.
Demand for young adult (YA) literature has also been notably high. Lee Kkotnim, widely recognized as a “leading author in young adult fiction,” has firmly established her unique literary universe through works such as Taking a Bite out of Summer and I Will Cross Time for You. Her latest release, Girl You Want to Kill 2, has reached 4th place on the bestseller list, while several of her earlier works have also ranked among bestsellers. Another YA title, If We Ever Look at the Same Star by Cha In-pyo, has claimed 2nd spot and garnered much attention after being selected as a recommended reading title at the University of Oxford this year. The rapid growth of YA literature can be attributed to its shift from traditional themes like family, friendship, and school life, to more diverse topics that address social issues and evoke empathy across generations. The rise in teen reading rates during the first half of this year has further fueled this trend, with young readers increasingly making independent book purchases based on their interests—whether for academic purposes, self-improvement, or pure enjoyment.
Additionally, the latter half of the year saw the return of major authors. Kim Hoon, “the voice of our times,” Kim Ae-ran, “the young virtuoso of Korean literature,” and Jeong You-jeong, “the queen of thrillers,” all published new books. Kim Hoon’s essay collection, Wasted Years, which is his first release in five years, ranked 3rd on the bestseller list. Kim Ae-ran’s One of These Two is a Lie, published after a 13-year hiatus from full-length novels, reached 12th place, while Jeong You-jeong’s Eternal Heaven, the second installment in her “desire trilogy,” landed at 13th.
Meanwhile, the enduring popularity of Korean-style healing novels, also known as “feel-good” novels, remains strong. My Don Quixote and Uncanny Convenience Store 1, 2, with their fairy-tale-like stories set in everyday life, consistently appear on bestseller lists, reflecting readers’ ongoing interest in comforting stories.
Written by Lee Seung-yeon
Lee Seung-yeon is a reporter for City Life, a weekly magazine published by Maeil Business Newspaper. She explores cultural and lifestyle trends, encapsulating the world within the pages of the magazine each week.
Translated by Soyoung Kim
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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전 세계 독자의 마음을 움직이는 바람, 2024년 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 three Korean bookstore chains and the list of most borrowed books provided by the Korean Library Association from April to June 2024. 」
The trend of Korean literature in the first half of 2024 can be defined as “the power of steadiness.” Since the beginning of this year, the bestseller shelves in bookstores and libraries have been stocked with books published more than a decade ago, a rare sight and a pleasant surprise. As books that share the wisdom of timeless and insightful philosophers have been popular in the Korean book market since last year, this year, readers have chosen timeless classics in Korean literature. Although the number of newly published novels and sales thereof slowed down compared to 2022 and 2023, there were new releases by bestselling authors who have been recognized in overseas markets and have begun to attract the attention of Korean readers, garnering their own “fandom.”
Yang Gui-ja’s Contradiction, a bestseller when it was published in 1998, has been ranked No. 1 on the bestseller list for the first half of 2024, nearly 30 years after its first release. Its readers agree that it makes them realize different meanings and feel new emotions as they read it over and over as time goes by. In other words, it is a steady-seller that readers in their twenties revisit in their thirties, and those in their thirties re-read in their forties. Choi Jin-young’s Proof of Gu, published in 2015, has also recently gained attention from readers in their twenties and thirties and has been ranked No. 8 on the bestseller list, climbing back up the sales chart. Both books have been steadily recommended on online channels and platforms such as influencers and book YouTubers and went viral.
It is also noteworthy that Gu Byeong-mo’s book Bruised Fruit , which was published in 2018, also made the list. The book deals with the conflicts and inner thoughts of a female killer in her sixties, and its immersive storyline garnered attention not only in the Korean market but also overseas, selling rights to 11 countries in 2022. Recently, there has been news of domestic musical and movie productions based on the novel, renewing the attention to the original novel. This is deemed a positive sign for the expansion of IP (Intellectual Property) in Korean literature; solid themes of proven works are being adapted into TV series, movies, plays, webtoons, and other cultural means, creating a virtuous cycle of piquing the interest to their original works. As an example, the recently released and bestselling Children of the Rune - Blooded Vol. 7 is the new book in the fantasy series Children of the Rune by Jeon Min-hee, which has also been recently released as a webtoon of the same title.
Along with the global interest in K-culture, including TV dramas, movies, and music, Korean literature is also experiencing a rise in new trends. Authors and works with guaranteed literary quality have been nominated for major overseas literary awards and highlighted by overseas media, signaling the rise of Korean literature. Hwang Sok-yong’s Mater 2-10, which reached the 14th place on the bestseller list, was shortlisted for the International Booker Prize this year, raising Korean readers’ interest once again. Through the story of three generations of railroad workers, the book traces the history of South Korea from the Japanese colonial period to the post-liberation and the present day. Starting with Han Kang’s The Vegetarian , a winner of the International Booker Prize in 2015, Korean publications such as Bora Chung’s Cursed Bunny and Cheon Myeong-kwan’s Whale have been gaining international recognition, broadening Korean literature’s international market and attracting Korean readers once again.
“Fandom” and “digging” (a phenomenon of deeply immersing oneself in a field) are also prominent in the field of reading books, and increasingly more readers seek out the works of their favorite authors or their next release. Kim Ho-yeon, delivered warm consolation with Uncanny Convenience Store Vol. 1 and 2 in 2022 and 2023, respectively, and he continued with his signature “Kim Ho-yeon genre” and the “emotional healing novel” trend, which is still going strong this year; with his new novel My Don Quixote , Kim ranked third on the bestseller list in the first half of this year.
Here are the top 10 bestsellers!
1. Yang Gui-ja, Contradiction
2. Kim Ho-yeon, Uncanny Convenience Store
3. Kim Ho-yeon, My Don Quixote
4. Choi Eunyoung, Even in the dimmest light(Tentative name)
5. Kim Mela et al., The 15th Anthology of Award-winning Young Authors 2024
6. Jeong Hai-yeon, Flamingo's Places
7. Kimbbang, The Best of Tomorrows
8. Choi Jin-young’s Proof of Gu
9. Lee Byungryul, Once in Love So Profound
10. Kkoch-nim Lee, Taking a Bite Out of Summer
Written by Lee Seung-yeon
Lee Seung-yeon is a reporter for the Maeil Business Newspaper’s weekly magazine, City Life. Lee explores cultural and lifestyle trends and captures the world in a single issue every week.
Translated by Joheun Lee
Joheun Lee (Jo) is a literary translator from Korea. She was selected in the 2023 and 2024 Translation Academy Night Courses from LTI Korea, the American Literary Translators Association's inaugural Building Our Future workshop for emerging BIPOC translators, and the 2023-24 National Centre for Writing's Emerging Translator Mentorship for Korean-English translation.
A long-time fan of K-pop and many other subcultures, she finds herself drawn to works on related topics and speculative fiction, especially by women and queer writers. A UX Designer by day, Jo now lives with her partner and three cats in Shanghai, China.
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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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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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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.
