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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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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
