The Best Korean Books To Read

Are you thinking about visiting Korea? Fantastic! There are so many Korean books to read before your trip to South Korea. This curated list has the best Korean writers, books about Korean history, and even famous Korean novels. In this post you’ll definitely find the best Korean books to read. We have a little something for everyone (yes, even the Kpop lovers). I promise if you read half of the books on this list, you will have an entirely new perspective and appreciation for South Korean novels, history, the country, and culture.

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1. The Disaster Tourist by Yun Ko-eun

I love books about travel and how humans do have a large impact on the environment, locals, and the culture of the places they travel. The Disaster Tourist by Yun Ko-Eun is a satire about late stage capitalism gone chaotic. Our story begins at a company named Jungle, a travel agency that has made a profitable business of “surveying disaster zones and molding them into travel destinations.” And in case you were wondering, yes, disaster tourism is a thing.

***TRIGGER WARNING. THE NEXT PART OF THIS SYNOPSIS COVERS SEXUAL ASSAULT***

Yona is being sexually harassed and groped by her creepy supervisor Kim. She is offered a work trip to Mui and must make a very difficult decision between what is easy and what is right. She has to morally decide whether to cancel disaster trips thus risking the lives and well-being of the locals to get ahead at her job. This is one of the novels about Korea highlighting workplace Stockholm Syndrome and how capitalism often asks workers to sacrifice their ethics for jobs. It also shows how tourism often exacerbates and profits from economic inequality. You can purchase Disaster Tourist by Yun Ko-Eun here.

2. Human Acts by Han Kang

From the internationally best seller of The Vegetarian, comes the novel, Human Acts by Han Kang. If you’re looking for great Korean books translated into English, then this is it. The story follows a very important part of Korean history in the 1980s when a violent uprising occurred in Gwangju. In 1979, South Korea’s dictator was assassinated. That same year, burgeoning civil unrest brought impositions of martial law, increased authoritarianism and curtailed freedom of the press. In May 1980, paratroopers and police ruthlessly attacked protesting students and unarmed civilians in the city of Gwangju. The uprising lasted 10 days, resulting in hundreds of deaths.

The novel begins with the death of a young boy named Dong-ho. We then follow the lives of others who were tragically killed, jailed, or deeply affected in that uprising. Human Acts is a refusal to look away from the aftermath of that trauma, including the subsequent torture of prisoners and government suppression of facts and casualty figures. You can purchase Human Acts by Han Kang here.

3. The Vegetarian by Han Kang

The critically acclaimed novel The Vegetarian by Han Kang is one of the best Korean books to read because it is an international best seller. The protagonist is Yeong-hye, a part-time graphic artist and home-maker, whose decision to stop eating meat after a bloody, nightmarish dream about human cruelty leads to devastating consequences in her personal and familial life.

The Vegetarian is told in three parts. The first part revolves around Yeong-hye’s decision to stop eating meat and how it affected her family. This decision affects her shitty husband who admits he only married her so that he could live an uneventful life. The end of the first part shows an intervention between Yeong-hye and her father where they try and force feed her pork. She rebels by spitting it out and slitting her wrists. The attempt lands her in the hospital and convinces her husband she’s mentally unstable. If you want to find out what happens next, you can purchase The Vegetarian by Han Kang here.

4. At Dusk by Hwang Sok-Yong

Another Korean book with English translation is At Dusk by Hwang Sok-Kang. It follows the story of Park Minwoo, who is by every measure a dazzling success story. Born into poverty in a run down neighborhood in Seoul, Minwoo rides the wave of development in a rapidly modernizing society and soon becomes director of a large architectural firm. After being investigated for corruption, he reconsiders his part in the transformation of South Korea.

Minwoo receives an unexpected message from Cha Soona, his ex-lover. You can purchase At Dusk by Hwang Sok-Yong here.

5. Once Around The Sun by Melanie Steyn

Once Around the Sun by Melanie Steyn is about the Lee Family. You meet the Lee family’s curious 12 year old son, Dong-Ju; their 16 year old daughter Ji-young; Yun-hwa, a wife and mother; and Kyu-ah who looks forward to the legacy she will leave through their family. You can purchase Once Around The Sun by Melanie Steyn here.

6. Kim JiYoung, Born 1982 by Cho Nam Joo

Kim JiYoung, Born 1982 by Cho Nam Joo is one of the most famous Korean books. It became a smash hit across South Korea selling more than a million copies. The novel follows protagonist Kim JiYoung who is a seemingly normal woman in her mid-30s. She shares memories of her childhood, school years, getting married, having kids, and getting a white collar job. What makes this book so riveting are the demoralizing daggers, misogyny, and patriarchy flung at Kim and every woman in South Korean society. You can purchase Kim JiYoung, Born 1982 by Cho Nam Joo here.

7. Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

Another fan favorite book is Pachinko by Min Jin Lee. The story follows one family through the generations starting in the early 1900s when a poor but proud family has to deal with their daughter becoming pregnant out of wedlock. Her pregnancy threatens to shame the family when Sunja’s lover refuses to take responsibility. Sunja gets a shred of hope when a young minister affected by tuberculosis marries her and takes her to Japan. Through desperate hardships and hard won triumphs, this story is definitely a page turner. You can purchase Pachinko by Min Jin Lee here.

8. The Korean War by Max Hastings

The Korean War by Max Hastings takes us back to the communist invasion of Korea in June 1950. Hastings’ book uses personal accounts from more than 200 veterans. I think it’s so important to know about the Korean War because it still affects South Korea and the world today. It’s also such a surreal experience to read the book after understanding the history and then visiting the DMZ and JSA area. (Which is a tour I highly recommend going on, by the way.) You can purchase The Korean War by Max Hastings here.

9. White Chrysanthemum by Mary Lynn Bracht

White Chrysanthemum by Mary Lyn Bracht is one of the most heart-wrenching South Korean books I’ve ever read. It’s so important to understand why a lot of Japan and Korea tensions are always so high. Although the Japanese government has tried erasing comfort women from history for years, the stories of these women still live on today. The novel follows the life of Hana, a Jeju Haenyeo who makes her living deep sea diving and collecting seafood and shells. Fun fact, the Jeju Haenyeo are a national treasure of South Korea and pretty much real life mermaids. You can actually go swimming with them on Jeju.

During the Japanese occupation in Korea, Hana saves her younger sister from a Japanese soldier. The soldier takes Hana to a Japanese brothel in Manchuria. She is forced to become a comfort woman. Throughout her ordeal, Hana remembers she is a Jeju Haenyeo—a woman of power and strength.

In 2011, younger sister Emily has spent more than sixty years trying to forget the sacrifice her sister made. She realizes she must confront the past to discover peace. This is a beautiful story about the love between two sisters not letting the war tear them apart. You can purchase White Chrysanthemum by Mary Lynn Bracht here.

10. Lost Names: Scenes From A Korean Boyhood by Richard E Kim

In the novel Lost Names: Scenes From a Korean Boyhood by Richard E Kim, he paints seven vivid scenes throughout the years of 1932 to 1945 during the Japanese occupation. Sadly the occupiers forced the Koreans to renounce their names and take Japanese ones instead. The book follows one family as they watch their country surrender to the foreign invaders. You can purchase Lost Names by Richard E Kim here.

11. The Court Dancer by Kyung-Sook Shin

The Court Dancer by Kyung-Sook Shin is one of my favorite Korean romance novels translated into English. It’s also based off a true story to boot! Orphan Yi Jin is favored by the Empress and becomes a jewel in the late Joseon Court. Later on, a French diplomat arrives for an audience with the Emperor and becomes enthralled by the culture and beauty of Korea. He falls head over heels in love with Yi Jin when he watches her perform the delicate traditional Dance of the Spring Oriole. He confesses his love for Yi Jin and the emperor allows her to travel back with him to France.

In Belle Epoque Paris, Yi Jin lives a freer life away from the constricting court life of Korea. There, she meets another Korean student and together, they begin translating Joseon literature (aka novels in Korean) into French. You can purchase The Court Dancer by Kyung-Sook Shin here.

12. In Order To Live by Maryanne Vollers & Park Yeon Mi

In Order To Live was the first book I read about North Korean refugees. This autobiography tells Yeon Mi’s story about her life in North Korea. She talks about hardships, scarcity of food, and how her father was sent to a labor camp for smuggling. Yeon Mi and her mother decide to flee the country. Like many North Korean women, they were trafficked as brides to rural Chinese farmers. They eventually escape through Mongolia and are reunited with family in South Korea. You can purchase In Order To Live here.

13. A River in Darkness: One Man’s Escape From North Korea by Masaji Ishikawa

A River in Darkness by Masaji Ishikawa follows a half-Korean half-Japanese man who has spent his whole life feeling like a man without a country. This feeling only deepened when his family moved from Japan to North Korea when Ishikawa was just thirteen years old, and unwittingly became members of the lowest social caste. His father was lured by promises of work, education for his children, and a higher position in society. Sadly, the reality of their new life is far from the utopia promised. He recounts the challenges living under a crushing totalitarian regime, as well as the difficulties he faced repatriating to Japan after barely escaping North Korea with his life. You can purchase A River in Darkness by Masaji Ishikawa here.

14. Drifting House by Krys Lee

Drifting House by Krys Lee is about the psychological fallout from Korea’s troubled history. The book is mostly about the struggle of Asian immigrants who struggle to adapt to western culture. (I get it. It’s hard af. I couldn’t 100% adjust to everything in Japan and South Korea.) You can purchase Drifting House by Krys Lee here.

15. Your House Will Pay by Steph Cha

Your House Will Pay by Steph Cha follows the racial unrest between the Black and Korean communities during the LA Riots in the 90s. It takes place after Korean store owner, Soon Ja Du shoots fifteen year old girl, Latasha Harlins. Ja Du is sentenced to ten years in prison and never serves any of it. This causes unrest in the community and large racial tensions.

This is one of the best Korean books to read as it highlights Korean American and Black culture. The book shows the lives of two teenagers living in completely different worlds. On one end, you have sheltered teenager Grace Park who goes to school and works at her family’s pharmacy. On the other end, you have black teenager Shawn Matthews whose sister Ava was murdered in 1991. You can purchase Your House Will Pay by Steph Cha here.

16. Blood Sisters by Kim Yideum

Blood Sisters by Kim Yideum tells the story of Jeong Yeoul, a young Korean college student in the 1980’s, when the memory of President Chun Doohwan’s violent suppression of student demonstrations against martial law was still fresh. Through her story, you can feel the dread many women during that time faced. She tackles a new society with mixed up desires, sexual violence and conservatism. This book is a powerful testament of one woman’s efforts to live an authentic life in the face of injustice. You can purchase Blood Sisters by Kim Yideum here.

17. Love in The Big City by Sang Young Park

One of the draws by Love in The Big City by Sang Young Park is how well it highlights Seoul’s vibrant night life and the bleary eyed morning after. It’s something very nostalgic for me and gives me all the warm fuzzies. This story follows Young who is a cynical yet party loving student who constantly goes from work, to school, and in between the sheets of his latest Tinder matches. Young and his female best friend and roommate, Jaehee frequent nearby bars where they drown out their sad love lives, life problems, anxieties and worries in head spinning rounds of soju and freeze-chilled Marlboro Reds.

This is a great coming of age story as you watch his best friend Jaehee settle down and Young has to take responsibility for his ailing mother’s health and care. Throughout the book he tries to find companionship with a series of men. At the end of the day, it will come down to a man whose dashing good looks are as striking as his cold demeanor and another who might end up being the love of his life. You can purchase Love in The Big City by Sang Young Park here.

18. XOXO by Axie Oh

This is something I personally would not read because I don’t give a damn about Kpop, the idols, or the industry. One of the draws to this novel is the illustrator who did the beautiful cover art who you can find on Instagram by the name Zipcy here. It’s got a lot of good reviews from the Kpop stans so if you’re a diehard fan, then this is something absolutely up your alley. XOXO by Axie Oh follows protagonist Jenny who is a cello prodigy. Her only goal in life is to enter a prestigious music conservatory. When she meets mysterious and handsome Jaewoo in her uncle’s Los Angeles karaoke bar, it’s clear he’s the kind of boy who would uproot her careful plans.

In a moment of spontaneity, she lets Jaewoo pull her out of her comfort zone and decides to have an unforgettable adventure. Sadly, mystery man Jaewoo disappears without a word. Thinking this is the end, Jenny and her mother arrive in South Korea to take care of her ailing grandmother.

At her new elite arts academy, Jenny discovers Jaewoo is not a normal student. He’s a member of the biggest K-pop group and he’s forbidden to date. A relationship for Jenny means altering the perfectly curated life she always envisioned for herself. Is she willing to risk it all for Jaewoo? You can purchase XOXO by Annie Oh here.

19. The Birth of Korean Cool: How One Nation Is Conquering The World Through Pop Culture by Euny Hong

This book attempts to explain how Korea rose up from the ashes of the 1950 Korean War to become the world’s 15th largest economy. I’m sure by now, you’ve heard the song Gangnam Style and how it took the world by storm in the 2010s to be one of the most viewed videos on YouTube at the time. The book has a funny, up close, and personal way of explaining how South Korea vaulted itself into the twenty-first century, becoming a global leader in business, technology, education, and pop culture.You can purchase The Birth of Korean Cool: How One Nation Is Conquering The world Through Pop Culture by Euny Hong here.

20. The Solo Girl’s Travel Guide To Korea by Alexa West

This is an awesome book about traveling and living in South Korea as woman. This is also a perfect gift to give someone who is thinking about experiencing the country. Her travel guide is for the adventurous spirit who loves culture, night life, and how to stay safe with the boom boom pow. You can purchase The Solo Girl’s Travel Guide To Korea by Alexa West here.

I hope you enjoyed this selection of popular Korean books, Korean stories with English translation, and Korean translated novels. I tried to keep the list diverse so that way the Kpop lovers, history buffs, and travel lovers could find something. Korea is such a unique country with tons of history and a very enriching culture. This book list has tons of Korean novels in English so you can truly get a sense of the culture from the Land of The Morning Calm.

This post contains affiliate links which means at no additional cost to you, I make a small commission to help keep Gina Bear’s Blog running. Thanks for your support!

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