Literary Tourism: South Korea

I’m Waiting for You: And Other Stories

by Kim Bo-young

Speculative fiction is one of my favorite genres, and I especially love discovering international perspectives in this section of the bookstore. Kim is a beloved South Korean writer (who also worked as a script advisor on the popular film Snowpiercer.) In this collection, she explores what it means to be human in two pairs of thematically interconnected stories. I have this one high on my TBR. Translated by Sophie Bowman and Sung Ryu.

To the Warm Horizon

by Choi Jin-young

I’ve just this year started to dip my toes back into reading dystopian fiction, which was one of my favorite genres pre-2020. So, the timing was right when I discovered this queer love story featuring a band of Koreans in post-apocalyptic Russia. This gripping novel asks us to believe in love even when the odds are stacked against it, and explores how humanity reacts to catastrophe. Translated by Soje.

The Disaster Tourist

by Yun Ko-Eun

The blurb for this book begins: "Jungle is a cutting-edge travel agency specializing in tourism to destinations devastated by disaster and climate change," and that was enough to catch my attention. This story follows Yona, a top representative at Jungle who finds herself in a tricky predicament and has to decide whether to protect her job and employer, or make a more difficult decision. Described by reviewers as a "dystopian feminist eco-thriller" and a "timely capitalist satire," I expect I’ll shelve this next to Camp Zero and Birnam Wood. Translated from the Korean by Lizzie Buehler.

The Plotters

by Un-su Kim

Any time a thriller or spy novel features a mysterious space called “The Library”, it’s a must-read. This story follows assassin Reseng in an alternate version of Seoul, Raised in The Library, Reseng never questioned his criminal lifestyle until something unexpected goes wrong and he’s forced to make some hard decisions about his future path. Un-Su Kim is a beloved author (he also wrote my above pick, The Cabinet,) and this title is acclaimed as an action-packed and wildly entertaining thriller. While this is on my TBR, I haven’t read it yet, and online summaries suggest that sensitive readers may want to avoid it due to some violent content on the page. Translated from the Korean by Sora Kim-Russell.

Pachinko

by Min Jin Lee

In this sweeping domestic drama, Lee tracks four generations of a 20th-century Korean family back to the time when Japan annexed the country in 1910, affecting the fates of all. Lee portrays the struggles of one struggling Korean family against the backdrop of cultural and political unrest, as they endure fierce discrimination at the hands of the Japanese. A compelling portrait of a little-explored period of history.

Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital

by Elise Hu

Holly says: "It’s impossible to ignore the impact of beauty culture in Korea, from the ubiquitous sheet-mask shops to the women riding the subway with their bangs pulled back on soft rollers. This new book from Elise Hu, which I first heard of in an interview between the author and WSIRN alum Anne Helen Petersen, considers historical context and includes hours of interviews with South Korean women. Hu paints a picture of the complex intersection of capitalism, beauty, success, and culture, while inviting us to imagine what could be different. I found it fascinating."

Mater 2–10

by Hwang Sok-yong

This cover caught team member Holly's eye at a bookstore in Seoul, and she recognized Hwang’s name: he is an accomplished South Korean novelist, the second Korean author to be nominated for a Booker prize (for his 2015 novel At Dusk). Hwang’s history is uniquely compelling: he was sentenced to seven years in prison in 1993 for an unauthorized trip to North Korea to promote artistic exchange, although he was later pardoned. This multi-generational epic follows the struggles of ordinary Koreans from the Japanese colonial era into the present day.

I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki: A Memoir

by Baek Sehee

Holly says: "One of the best culinary discoveries of our travels so far is Tteokbokki: a tasty and comforting spicy rice-cake dish that I’d describe as Korea’s answer to really good Mac & Cheese. So, the title of this memoir alone made it a must-read. This blend of memoir and self-help is a comforting read for anyone encountering hard times. Baek invites us into dialogues with her therapist, and her subsequent effort to disentangle and break free from the patterns that led her to a breaking point." Translated from the Korean by Anton Hur.

Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop

by Hwang Bo-reum

This feel-good novel caught my eye with a blurb that described it as “A slice-of-life novel about finding acceptance and comfort in your life—with a good dose of the healing power of books.” Yes, please! A Korean bestseller, this is the first novel from Hwang, and has been called a readalike to Gabrielle Zevin's The Storied Life of AJ Fikry. I couldn’t pre-order this title quickly enough. The English language edition translated by Shanna Tan comes out in the U.S. in February 2024.

Beyond the Story: 10-Year Record of BTS

by BTS, Myeongseok Kang

Holly says: "I will admit to being a total K-pop novice, but the cultural impact of BTS and similar music groups is undeniable even to the uninitiated like me. When I heard of its summer 2023 release, I put this title on my library holds list and can’t wait to read the full account of how this boy-band grew to be the best-selling artist in Korean history. This authorized history co-written with well-known K-pop critic and author Myeongseok Kang compiles behind-the-scenes stories, interviews, and insights from BTS members, from before they debuted through the present day."

The Color of the Sky Is the Shape of the Heart

by Chesil

Holly says: "While I knew the broad strokes of Korean history, upon visiting the country I realized how little I truly knew about how generations of colonial control, invasion, and ethnic conflict have shaped Korean culture today. This short YA novel, told in vignettes and letters, tells one young girl’s story of confronting prejudice, nationality, and grappling with what it means to belong. It gives voice to the Zainichi Korean (ethnic Korean born in Japan) experience."

The Court Dancer

by Kyung-Sook Shin

This rich historical novel follows a Joseon Dynasty court dancer who travels to France and finds herself in a world of intrigue, betrayal, and the struggles of a country and culture at a crossroads. Shin is a beloved South Korean novelist and this story is full of characters that will stay with the reader and bring a magnificent chapter of Korean history to life.

The Cabinet

by Un-su Kim

One could argue this title falls into the sub-genre of “weird fiction”, which readers may associate with China Miéville and Jeff VanderMeer. In this fantastical, strange, and sometimes whimsical novel, Mr. Kong, a harried office worker, is in charge of Cabinet 13. While it looks normal, this cabinet is full of files on humans with strange abilities and unusual experiences. Funny, ironic, and strange, I found it hard to put down. Kim won the Munhakdongne Novel Award, South Korea's most prestigious literary prize, for this novel, translated by Sean Lin Halbert.

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea

by Axie Oh

Holly says: "In another case of a beautiful cover catching my eye, once I realized this was a feminist retelling of a classic Korean folktale, I was even more excited to read this story from Oh, a first-generation Korean American. Mina, a young girl in a community wracked by deadly storms and floods, sacrifices herself to the Sea God to save her brother. When Mina finds the Sea God in an enchanted sleep, she’s aided by demons, gods, spirits, and a mysterious young man in her quest to awaken the Sea God. The publisher recommends it as 'perfect for fans of Wintersong, Uprooted, and Miyazaki's Spirited Away.'"

Literary Tourism: South Korea

I’m Waiting for You: And Other Stories

To the Warm Horizon

The Disaster Tourist

The Plotters

Pachinko

Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital

Mater 2–10

I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki: A Memoir

Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop

Beyond the Story: 10-Year Record of BTS

The Color of the Sky Is the Shape of the Heart

The Court Dancer

The Cabinet

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea

Find your next read with:

100 Book recommendations
for every mood

Literary Tourism: South Korea

summer reading starts May 16th

Find your next read with:

100 Book recommendations for every mood

100 Book recommendations
for every mood