Delving into Depth: A Journey Through the Best Books by Korean Authors
The world of literature is vast and varied, offering endless opportunities for exploration. Recently, books by Korean authors, with their captivating narratives and unique perspectives, have garnered significant global attention. From historical fiction to chilling horror and thought-provoking social commentary, these authors delve into complex themes with a raw honesty that resonates deeply with readers.
This list compiles some of the most celebrated and impactful contemporary Korean literature available in English. Featuring award-winning novels and critically acclaimed stories, this selection offers a glimpse into the richness and diversity of Korean storytelling, promising an unforgettable reading experience for those seeking something fresh and profound.
1. Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
What is this book about?
"Pachinko" by Min Jin Lee is a sweeping saga that chronicles the lives of a Korean family across four generations, beginning in the early 1900s with Sunja, a young woman growing up in Japanese-occupied Korea. When Sunja finds herself pregnant by a wealthy, married fish broker, she is rescued from scandal by a kind, sickly minister who offers to marry her and take her to Japan. Life in Japan is fraught with prejudice and hardship, and Sunja and her family must learn to navigate a new culture while clinging to their Korean identity. Through wars, poverty, and societal discrimination, the family endures, their resilience echoing across generations as they chase their dreams and fight for a place to belong.
Awards
- Dayton Literary Peace Prize
- National Book Award Finalist
- Goodreads Choice Award
- Reading Women Award
- Litsy Award
2. The Vegetarian by Han Kang
Contributor: Deborah Smith(Translator)
What is this book about?
"The Vegetarian" by Han Kang, translated by Deborah Smith, tells the unsettling story of Yeong-hye, an ordinary Korean housewife who, after a series of disturbing dreams, abruptly decides to become a vegetarian. Her decision, seemingly innocuous at first, is met with bewilderment and outrage from her family, who view it as a rejection of tradition and an affront to their societal norms. As Yeong-hye's commitment to her vegetarianism deepens, so does her alienation from her family and the world around her. She descends into a surreal and disturbing transformation, her body becoming a site of both rebellion and profound psychological distress as she grapples with repressed trauma and yearns for a different way of being in the world.
Who should read this book?
Readers who enjoy:
- Literary fiction
- Psychological thrillers
- Korean literature
- Allegorical stories
- Unconventional narratives
Awards
- Internationaler Literaturpreis – Haus der Kulturen der Welt
- PEN Translation Prize
- Frankfurt Book Fair LiBeraturpreis
- International Booker Prize
- Premio San Clemente
3. Human Acts by Han Kang
Contributor: Deborah Smith(Translator)
What is this book about?
"Human Acts" by Han Kang, translated by Deborah Smith, delves into the brutal aftermath of the 1980 Gwangju Uprising in South Korea. Through a series of interconnected vignettes, the novel explores the profound impact of violence and state repression on individuals and a community forever marked by tragedy. We witness the horrors of the uprising through the eyes of those who lived through it: a young boy searching for his friend's body, a student activist tortured by the authorities, a grieving mother struggling to make sense of her son's death. "Human Acts" is a harrowing but deeply moving testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable suffering and the enduring power of memory and collective grief.
Who should read this book?
- Readers interested in Korean history and politics
- Fans of literary fiction
- Those who appreciate powerful, moving stories
- People who don't shy away from difficult themes
Awards
- Andrew Carnegie Medal
- Dublin Literary Award
4. The Hen Who Dreamed She Could Fly by Sun-mi Hwang
Contributor: Nomoco(Illustrator), Chi-Young Kim(Translator)
What is this book about?
Spreaded is a hen living on a ruthless egg farm who longs for a life beyond the caged routine. Fueled by an unyielding spirit and inspired by a wise old hen, Spreaded embarks on a quest for freedom and self-discovery. She escapes the confines of the farm and enters a world full of both wonder and danger, where she encounters a cast of memorable characters and learns the true meaning of courage, perseverance, and the importance of following your dreams.
5. Cursed Bunny by Bora Chung
Contributor: Anton Hur(Translator)
What is this book about?
"Cursed Bunny" is not one story, but a collection of interconnected short stories by Bora Chung, translated by Anton Hur. These stories delve into the grotesque and uncanny, exploring the darkness that festers beneath the surface of modern life and our relationships. From cursed objects to body horror, each tale is a chilling exploration of societal anxieties, the weight of tradition, and the unsettling consequences of our choices, all told through Chung's distinct blend of surrealism, horror, and sharp social commentary.
Awards
- National Book Award Finalist
- International Booker Prize
6. Love in the Big City by Sang Young Park
Contributor: Anton Hur(Translator)
What is this book about?
"Love in the Big City" follows the life of Young, a gay man navigating love, lust, and self-discovery in contemporary Seoul. Juggling casual hookups, unrequited feelings for his best friend, and the complexities of his relationship with his mother, Young searches for connection and meaning in a city that both exhilarates and isolates. Through a series of poignant vignettes spanning a decade, the novel explores themes of desire, loneliness, family, and the struggle to find love and acceptance in the face of societal expectations. As Young confronts his past and embraces his true self, the story offers a candid and moving portrait of modern love and the search for belonging.
Awards
- International Booker Prize
7. At Dusk by Hwang Sok-yong
Contributor: Sora Kim-Russell(Translator)
What is this book about?
"At Dusk" delicately weaves together the stories of three individuals grappling with disillusionment and longing in modern-day Seoul. Park Chan-wook, a successful architect facing the hollowness of his achievements, receives a mysterious email that reawakens memories of his youth. Meanwhile, Jung Yoon-hee finds a diary detailing her former lover's struggle with societal constraints and their unfulfilled dreams. As their past and present intertwine, a young architecture student named Kim Yeong-kyeong navigates her own anxieties and uncertainties about the future, mirroring their feelings of displacement in a rapidly changing world. Through their interconnected journeys, the novel explores themes of lost love, societal pressures, the elusiveness of happiness, and the poignant search for connection in an increasingly isolating world.
Who should read this book?
- Fans of Korean literature
- Readers who enjoy character-driven stories
- People interested in themes of social class and disillusionment
- Those seeking introspective, atmospheric novels
Awards
- International Booker Prize
8. Untold Night and Day by Bae Suah
What is this book about?
"Untold Night and Day" immerses the reader in a hazy, dreamlike journey through the streets of Seoul, where time and reality blur. We follow Ayami, a young woman working at an audio theatre for the visually impaired, as she navigates a disorienting day filled with peculiar encounters. As she drifts through conversations with enigmatic colleagues, a renowned elderly writer on the verge of blindness, and mysterious strangers, the line between dreams, memories, and waking life becomes increasingly porous. Through these interwoven narratives and a series of disappearances, the novel explores themes of perception, memory, the passage of time, and the elusive nature of truth in a city pulsating with unseen connections.
9. The White Book by Han Kang
Contributor: Deborah Smith(Translator)
What is this book about?
"The White Book" by Han Kang, translated by Deborah Smith, is a meditative and fragmented exploration of grief, loss, and the color white. The unnamed narrator, reeling from the death of her older sister who lived for only two hours, embarks on a journey through memory and association, prompted by everyday objects like snow, rice, swaddling cloth, and a blank page. As she grapples with the overwhelming whiteness that surrounds her, she delves into her family history, revisiting moments of pain, tenderness, and resilience. Through lyrical prose and poignant imagery, the novel weaves together personal reflections with broader meditations on life, death, and the enduring power of memory.
Awards
- Wellcome Book Prize
- Warwick Prize for Women in Translation
- International Booker Prize
10. The Disaster Tourist by Yun Ko-eun
Contributor: Lizzie Buehler(Translator)
What is this book about?
"The Disaster Tourist" by Yun Ko-eun, translated by Lizzie Buehler, follows Yona, a disillusioned employee of Jungle, a travel agency specializing in disaster tourism. When Yona uncovers a dark secret about the company's unethical practices, she finds herself forced to take a questionable "paid vacation" to the sinking island of Mui. As she navigates the ethically dubious tourist attractions and witnesses the manufactured disasters firsthand, Yona grapples with her own complicity in the industry and confronts the uncomfortable realities of exploiting tragedy for profit. In a world teetering on the edge of collapse, the novel explores themes of climate change, economic disparity, and the human capacity for both empathy and exploitation.
11. The Underground Village by Kang Kyeong-ae
Contributor: Anton Hur(Translator)
What is this book about?
"The Underground Village" by Anton Hur, translated by Kang Kyeong-ae, follows the interconnected lives of residents in a decaying building slated for demolition in Seoul, South Korea. As the wrecking ball looms, the novel delves into the personal histories and struggles of its inhabitants: an elderly woman haunted by the disappearance of her daughter during the Korean War, a struggling artist seeking connection amidst the city's anonymity, and a young delivery worker grappling with his sexuality and societal expectations. Through their intersecting stories, Hur paints a poignant portrait of urban isolation, the weight of history, and the enduring search for human connection amidst the relentless tide of modernization.
12. The Old Garden by Hwang Sok-yong
What is this book about?
"The Old Garden" by Hwang Sok-yong follows the story of Hyeon-u, a former student activist recently released from prison after two decades. Returning to a changed South Korea in 1989, he travels to a dilapidated garden in Wanwol-dong, a place intertwined with his past and the memory of Yun-hui, his former lover and fellow activist. As Hyeon-u tends to the garden and unearths its secrets, he unravels the intertwined stories of their passionate romance, their commitment to fighting for social justice during a turbulent period in Korean history, and the heartbreaking sacrifices they made for their ideals. Through their story, the novel explores themes of love, loss, political upheaval, and the enduring power of memory in a society grappling with the scars of the past.
13. Familiar Things by Hwang Sok-yong
Contributor: Sora Kim-Russell(Translator)
What is this book about?
"Familiar Things" by Hwang Sok-yong, translated by Sora Kim-Russell, tells the story of 11-year-old Gosan and his struggle for survival on the margins of Seoul's Nanjido landfill. Abandoned by his mother and left to fend for himself, Gosan scavenges for recyclables alongside other displaced individuals in a community built on trash. Despite the harsh realities of poverty and pollution, Gosan finds solace in his resourcefulness, his unexpected friendship with a young girl named Bugeye, and the enduring presence of his absent mother through the familiar objects she left behind. Through their experiences, the novel shines a light on the resilience of the human spirit amidst hardship and the interconnectedness of consumerism, environmental degradation, and social inequality.
14. The Impossible Fairy Tale by Han Yujoo
Contributor: Janet Hong(Translator)
What is this book about?
"The Impossible Fairy Tale" by Han Yujoo, translated by Janet Hong, is a haunting and surreal novel that blurs the lines between reality and imagination within the confines of a South Korean elementary school. The story unfolds through the intertwined perspectives of two unnamed children: a bullied girl ostracized by her classmates and a troubled boy drawn to violence. As their lives intersect, strange and disturbing events begin to occur, blurring the line between the real and the imagined, and culminating in a shocking act of violence. Through its unsettling narrative, the novel explores themes of childhood cruelty, social isolation, and the disturbing undercurrents lurking beneath seemingly ordinary lives.
Who should read this book?
Fans of psychological thrillers, readers who appreciate experimental storytelling, and those interested in contemporary Korean literature.
Awards
- PEN Translation Prize