The Good Son by You-jeong Jeong is a gripping and twisted psychological thriller that tells the story of Yu-jin, a young man with a troubled past who wakes up to find his mother dead and has no memory of what happened. The novel is a spooky look at the human mind and the ways in … Read more
Euny Hong’s book The Birth of Korean Cool is an engaging and informative look at the phenomenon that is the rise of Korean pop culture around the world. In his book, Hong analyzes in depth the cultural, economic, and political variables that have led to Korea’s meteoric rise to prominence in the international entertainment industry. … Read more
The Court Dancer by Kyung-sook Shin is an engaging and heartfelt novel about a young Korean dancer named Yi Jin who goes to Japan in the late 19th century to perform for the imperial court. The book delves deeply into universal themes like love, loss, and the ability of art to bridge divides of all … Read more
A young boy called Jang Nam is forced to abandon his rural home and move to the city with his mother in Hwang Sok-yong’s profound and moving novel Familiar Things. Inequality, identity, and the human experience are powerfully explored in the book, which also provides a rich and complex portrait of modern South Korean life. … Read more
The Impossible Fairy Tale by Han Yujoo is a gloomy and surreal book that deals with issues of violence, power, and the delusion of control. Two girls—Mia, a wealthy and privileged student at an elite school, and the “Child,” a young girl who is abused and ignored by her parents—are the focus of this South … Read more
The Hole by Hye-young Pyun is a compelling and eerie book about Oghi, a man who escapes a car accident that kills his wife and the devastating psychological fallout that follows. The book delves deeply into the themes of personal responsibility, loss, and the complexities of the human mind. The plot of this Korean drama … Read more
The Accusation is a collection of stories by Bandi, a pen name for a North Korean author who risked his life to print these stories that criticize and expose the true nature of the regime in his country. This book is a courageous and harrowing portrayal of life in North Korea, and a testament to … Read more
Poetic and reflective, Han Kang’s The White Book examines the ways in which words can alter our perceptions of the world and the ways in which we deal with grief and memory. This novel is a beautiful and haunting meditation on the experience of loss and the various paths we take to heal ourselves and … Read more
I Have the Right to Destroy Myself by Young-ha Kim is a deep and eerie book that delves into the darker corners of human psychology like suicide, grief, and the quest for meaning. The book is a provocative and introspective look at human yearning and the impact of free will on one’s life. The book … Read more
One Hundred Shadows by Hwang Jungeun is a captivating book that combines magical realism and social criticism to create a spooky and unforgettable reading experience. The story is set in a modern Korean city and tracks two young friends as they fight against gentrification and keep their way of life. The novel centers around the … Read more