Must Read Korean Books

Chanchal Bharti, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh

Are you a bookworm who enjoys reading a variety of novels? And are you a fan of Korean culture or Korean books? Then you’ve come to the right place!

Whether it’s raining or snowing outside, whether you’ve recently broken up or are in a relationship, whether you’re a student or a busy office worker, a book can transport you to another world of fantasy, thriller, drama, romance, and so on. Today, I’m going to tell you about some Korean books that you should read:

‘The Vegetarian’ by Han Kang

‘The Vegetarian’ is usually my first recommendation for Korean novels. This is the tale of two sisters and their spouses, as well as one woman’s disturbing dreams. This isn’t just a story of a woman who abstains from eating meat and animal by-products; it’s a narrative about having control over one’s body and life, and the consequences of not having it. The writing is lovely, with many great sections. If you are a bookworm, you must read this book.

‘Please Look After Mom’ by Kyung-sook Shin

The life of a loving, selfless mother is shown in this book, which is marked by sacrifice, poverty, misery, and loneliness. Even though this is an extremely sad story to read, I can’t put it down. The translation is excellent, maintaining Shin’s original writing style. If you want to appreciate your mothers even further, I would strongly suggest this book.

‘The Plotters’ by Un-su Kim

‘The Plotters’ is the first novel by prize-winning Korean author, Un-su Kim, in English. Reseng has been an assassin for fifteen years. His facilitator is Old Raccoon, who operates out of the library he calls The Doghouse. His instructions come from the Plotters who take orders from the Contractor. An assignment will often see Reseng presenting a body to his friend Bear who runs a pet crematorium but will, for a fee, cremate a human body with due reverence and ceremony. There is no doubt that this book is odd and quirky. I highly enjoyed it.

‘The Disaster Tourist’ by Yun Ko-eun

‘The Disaster Tourist’ is award-winning South Korean writer Yun Ko-eun’s first novel to be translated into English and one of the most original thrillers.  Interesting concept that shows the tourism industry and human damage to the environment.

‘Drifting House’ by Krys Lee

‘Drifting House’ is the debut collection of Krys Lee that contains many good short stories and some truly exceptional ones. This collection of short stories gave me all the feels. If you liked Jhumpa Lahiri’s ‘Interpreter of Maladies’ or you’re looking for something similar to read, this is a great book to pick up.

I hope you will enjoy reading these amazing books. Let us know your thoughts in the comments!