10 Must-Read Korean Novels in Translation

If you're looking for the best Korean novels in English translation, this list of ten is the perfect place to start. Many of the Korean authors (and translators) mentioned here have entire libraries available for you to explore once you've exhausted this list.

[katekursive]

Korean women write like a knife through the heart. It's not uncommon for me to cry through an entire book

[애니-ez]

Han Kang has been awarded a Novel Prize yesterday and your review about her is pretty helpful to understand her books. Thank you.

[theamethyst]

The vegetarian got me back into reading a few weeks ago. That was an incredible book, the best I’ve ever read so far honestly.

[Raunak]

These reccomendations were great! I've added most of them to my TBR. Thank you.

[francastanos]

I also read those three Hankang books 😍 and Kim Jiyoung born 1982! I just loved them all, now I'm looking for my next Korean book ¡Thank you for the help!

[sihamwh]

Thank you for these series on ''novels in translation'' ( not the biggest fan of this expression but that's a story for another time). Many great books to pick from and great insight into their backgrounds too. I feel totally illiterate when it comes to Asian literature.

[mx.eyebrows]

If you liked Untold Night & Day, you really need to read The Blind Owl (the book that is mentioned a bunch in it, and I think is an inspiration for Love both!!!!

[enigmaticreverieproduction]

I loved Pachinko!!! And how it was written, to jump from 3 generations it had hope then it had heartbreak and so much more!

[rightonrightonrighton]

Just read Untold Night and Day at your recommendation. Really unnerving book that's brilliantly evocative.

[shannonbarrios]

ive only read one, its Human Acts by Han Kang. One of my treasured books honestly. I read it when i was in middle school and really bawled my eyes out. It also didn’t help that I was in some sort of existential depression then.🤧😅

[Bella-xlxv]

Pyun Hye-Young is my cousin! I am so proud of her! :)

[fktdelulucircus]

Your hair looks like a kpop star in this! So cute

[mrseskasi]

I started reading the vegetarian … the first part was fine( I didn’t finish it rather I abandoned as I would a burning coal)… ironically it’s not about being vegetarian( which I am😅)…
Rather it points to the failure of society even the people closest to you to understand you( that’s how I read it)… the woman is literally starving herself because something is not right for her inside out… (as someone who realised I was anorexic and struggled to rise above I can relate)… but for people all that mattered was that she had become vegetarian… the sheer blindness of people was staggering…this is why even though I didn’t find the characters or plot interesting I could continue reading… because it hit different… and the the bits where you get the woman’s perspective is interesting… the violent undertone .. gave it a more malevolent and sinister vibe.

But the second part made me hurl… I tried to push through it but the brother in law’s sexual descriptions and fetishisation were not only perverse … it felt like I was trying to force an abhorrent alien object into my system … just yuck!

[davidsheriff]

South Korea also makes some wonderful films. I can recommend a Korean TV series. Most K dramas are pretty lame, but there is one called Mother that I have been watching that is wonderful, I recommend it.

[miriamc]

Wish i had seen this a year ago, well now i am inspired to read a book i havent felt like reading for a while so now, i have a few books to find. Just wanted to say that The Hole that you talk about there is a Japenese book by the same name? Any connection ? Or no, interesting. Anyway i'm on info overload, i've read some Murakami, so hope to get through a few books and hopefully improve my poor critique skills can get alittle better. Thanks M
Its good to listen to good book reviews.

[toasted_heretic]

Lovely video, thank you so much. I've not read any of these... I'm about to though.

[marinamaccagni]

I'm reading "b book and me" but the bad italian translation is ruining my pleasure of reading it.

[hidekiryuga]

Sorry, but I can't help getting sidetracked by your attractive accent. lol

[shnkm]

A good list of korean books just except "kjy born 1982". It's sort of an crystalization of victim complex and hatred. Reading the book would be like wasting your life, I bet. Our life is too short and precious to read the trash.