While the world is buzzing about K-pop and taking a sneak peek into the lives of Koreans, here are the best Korean novels you should read to take a deep dive into their world.
Last year, I had the chance to explore South Korea for 12 days, and it was during that time that I first picked up The Vegetarian by Han Kang.
Since then, there was no looking back!
In the last 8 months, I’ve read 5 Korean novels and have fallen in love with them. Not only are they written beautifully, in a certain subtle tone, but they also address very important issues of society, which will make you think constantly and feel a thousand emotions.
Here’s a list of the 5 best Korean novels that I’ve loved, and you would love them too.
1. The Vegetarian (by Han Kang)
“When a person undergoes such a drastic transformation, there’s simply nothing anyone else can do but sit back and let them get on with it.”
― Han Kang, The Vegetarian.
A soul-stirring novel, The Vegetarian, written by Han Kang, was first published in 2007 and later translated into English in 2015. As a gripping novel, it earned the 2016 Man Booker International Prize, making Han Kang a celebrated author around the globe.
The Vegetarian is the story of a young woman, Yeong-hye, living in Seoul. While she had a normal life with her husband, things started changing slowly when she decided to change her diet and embrace a plant-based lifestyle after having several thoughts and dreams spattered with cruelty, blood, and carcasses. Her husband, Mr. Cheong, made several attempts to convince her to normalize her diet and eventually involved her family in the matter, claiming that she was mentally unstable.
Yeong-hye’s father and brother also tried to force-feed her a piece of pork, which she had to spit out. As things took a turn, Yeong-hye was finally admitted to a hospital.
While this is just a snippet of the story, The Vegetarian also delves deep into the vegetal psyche, a concept that reiterates the idea that plants also have feelings and consciousness. So, if you’re looking for a thoughtful read, this book is a must.
2. I Want to Die But I Want to Eat Tteokbokki (by Baek Sehee)
“I wonder about others like me, who seem totally fine on the outside but are rotting on the inside, where the rot is this vague state of being not-fine and not-devastated at the same time.”
― Baek Se-hee, I Want to Die But I Want to Eat Tteokbokki
I bought this book from a store in Busan, and it’s the best souvenir I could have gotten for myself. The author self-published it in 2018. It is a conversation between her and her therapist, and it’s a conversation that you’ll definitely find very relatable.
Baek used to work as a social media director for a publishing house when she was diagnosed with dysthymia, also known as persistent depressive disorder (PDD). It was during this time that she started seeing a psychiatrist and recorded all her conversations, which she later published in the form of a book, hoping that it would help others like her who also struggle with depression.
There’s a very interesting section in the book (a portion I loved) where she mentions that even when a part of us wants to die, there’s another part that would like to eat tteokbokki (a popular Korean dish). It made me feel that we all perhaps have that in us – two feelings coexisting together.
Reading Baek’s book made me feel like I was literally reading her diary. It was like a breath of fresh air, giving me hope that life isn’t all that bad, even when we think it is. Darkness is always overpowered by light, and bad things do pave the way for the good.
3. Pachinko (by Min Jin Lee)
“Fill your mind with knowledge – it’s the only kind of power no one can take away from you.”
― Min Jin Lee, Pachinko
A beautiful historical fiction novel, Pachinko is the story of a Korean family who migrated to Japan in the early 1900s and encountered racial discrimination, stereotyping, and other issues that many Koreans actually had to experience while living in Japan.
Min Jin Lee, who had worked as a journalist for years, published Pachinko in 2017, and it was later adapted by Apple Inc. for a show on Apple TV+.
The story revolves around the life of Sunja, who fell in love with a wealthy man who impregnated her and left. Betryaed in love, Sunja decided to follow her mother’s advice and married a gentle minister who was making his way to Japan and soon, her life changed. As the story unfolds, it’ll give you a glimpse of World War II and how the Koreans in Japan were affected during the war.
Min beautifully narrates the story of migration and discrimination, reflecting on decades of joy and grief that goes hand-in-hand in our usual lives. To say the least, the story of Sunja will stay with you, even after you finish reading ‘Pachinko’.
4. Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop (by Hwang Bo-Reum)
“I wanted to write what I want to read. Stories of people who find their own pace and direction, of people who believe in others and wait by their side as they go through difficult times, lost in worry. Stories that bring comfort, providing a pat on the shoulder for those who’ve lost the joy in life, having pushed themselves too hard to do well.”
― Hwang Bo-reum, Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop
A gripping novel, this is story of a woman named Yeongju who, after experiencing burnout and a life falling apart, opens a bookshop in Seoul’s Hyunam-dong neighborhood. Written by Hwang Bo-reum, a software engineer who worked with LG Electronics and gave up her stable job to pursue writing, this book has been aptly acclaimed as a ‘healing novel’.
The story focuses on various themes like finding acceptance in the society, nurturing a passion and discovering a life beyond social expectations.
The story moves around the usual life of Yeongju, who went to a good school, had an enviable career, and married a good man. Her life seemed picture-perfect, until her life fell apart. And that’s when Yeongju decided to follow her childhood dream of having her own bookshop.
Soon, she finds a supportive community, that helps her in building a happy life.
The tone of the novel is so beautiful, that it’ll make you feel as if you are reading a real story – and not a fiction novel. It also sheds light on the fact that we don’t need to depend on anyone for our happiness, we can create our own happy world.
5. Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 (by Cho Nam-Joo)
“You’re right. In a world where doctors can cure cancer and do heart transplants, there isn’t a single pill to treat menstrual cramps.’ Her sister pointed at her own stomach. ‘The world wants our uterus to be drug-free. Like sacred grounds in a virgin forest.”
― Cho Nam-Joo, Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982
‘Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982’ was written by Cho Nam-Joo in just two months, and she mentioned that the novel is very similar to her own life; hence she would finish writing it as such a speed! Divided into six chapters, the book is about Kim Jiyoung’s life and the sexism that she faced throughout her life, while pushed her into depression after becoming a housewife and a mother.
The story beautifully flows from Kim’s childhood where she was born in a family that prioritized sons over daughters. In school, she was bullied by a boy playing “pranks”, which stayed with her for years.
As she grew older, she had several relationships, until she married and was then pressurized to have a child. Flipping through the pages of the book, you’ll be able to live Kim’s life through the author’s words.
The novel sheds light on the hardships the Korean women had to go through, during the 1980s. These are issues that need to be discussed publicly, like sexual harassments and discrimination, that they encountered but were never taken seriously. This book is a must read, if you’re looking for a thought-provoking novel.
So, if you’re looking for a good book to read, you can pick one from the above. And if there’s any other Korean novel that you’ve read (and loved), do let me know about it in the comments below.
Post Views: 17
