South Korean novelist Han Kang, 53, the first Asian woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature this year, is recognised for her provocative works addressing historical traumas and the fragility of human life.
Her most popular Kafka-esque title, The Vegetarian (2007), which was translated by Deborah Smith and bagged the International Booker Prize in 2016, focuses on the brutal treatment of women and their diet practices, which have long plagued the country.
Following that, more and more authors published stories criticising social and political issues in the nation such as patriarchy, racism, discrimination, stereotyping and broken societies. Cho Nam-ju’s Kim Ji-young: Born 1982 focuses on women’s experiences of sexism since their youth.
Concerning My Daughter by Kim Hye-jin looks into the complexities of mother-daughter dynamics and the struggles faced by the LGBTQ community while Min Jin Lee’s Pachinko is an exploration of identity and a story of perseverance during warfare.
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These thought-provoking and mind-bending tomes were well received by the population pre-Covid because they served as a reflection of the past and a commentary on systemic affairs that needed urgent attention.
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But as trends continue to evolve and the new generation faces a different set of challenges, books that underscore heavy subjects are being pushed aside in favour of topics the younger demographic find more relatable.
Reports suggest that seven in 10 South Koreans suffered from mental health issues last year, in part due to challenging work arrangements that force them to toil away for longer hours than stated in their contracts. While many are open to seeking professional help, most tend to resort to instant remedies easily obtained from different entertainment mediums.
For instance, the K-pop industry is chock-full of groups that put out lighthearted and catchy music complete with exciting performances and fashion styling. On top of the visual and auditory treats, idols (the term coined for Korean pop artistes) are committed to providing emotional comfort to those struggling to cope with life’s problems through songs with warm and encouraging messages. Meanwhile, a wide variety of K-dramas showcase interesting and quality storylines that delve into the full spectrum of human emotions, allowing viewers to relate or reflect, release stress or boost their mood.
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Now, this focus has expanded to their literature, giving rise to a new subgenre known as “healing fiction”. During the pandemic, people began to embrace the act of slow living, defined as a conscious lifestyle where one does everything with unhurried purpose. They believe productivity cannot be optimised under overwhelming situations, highlighting the importance of a clear work-life balance for the sake of mental well-being. As such, novels that examine the effects of hustle culture — a push to work harder to get ahead by any means necessary, often at the expense of self-care and mental and physical health — have come to attract readers who frown upon the rise-and-grind concept and are looking for a way out.
It is worth noting that the settings are always ordinary and familiar — be it the local laundry that metaphorically washes away trauma, a library that welcomes you to live another life through stories and adventures, or a store that peddles dreams — complete with arresting covers featuring illustrations of said buildings. In short, these spaces serve as a safe haven for characters going through hard times, where they meet others who may be experiencing the same thing, or who will help pull them out of darkness.
Stories usually begin with a series of unfortunate events, before developing to reveal how the protagonist navigates uncharted territory, and finally arriving at a destination that facilitates recovery, offers purpose and mends heartbreak. Empathy, comfort, courage, compassion and solidarity are always key in these novels. Simple narratives free the reader from having to deal with difficult and complex plots, providing the perfect respite from what really goes on in daily life.
Hwang Bo-reum’s bestselling Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop follows a woman who quits her job to open a book store in a quaint Seoul neighbourhood. In her author’s note, Hwang states that she wants to present “space we can escape to, a refuge from the intensity of daily life where we can’t even pause to take a breather. A space to shelter us from the harsh criticisms whipping us to do more, to go faster. A space to snuggle comfortably for a day”. Her goal is to write stories she will personally read and derive comfort from.
Other works of fiction boasting similar concepts are DallerGut Dream Department Store (Miye Lee), Marigold Mind Laundry (Jungeun Yun) and The Rainfall Market (You Yeong-Gwang). These novels do not just soothe, they also offer consolation to the rest of the world in times of uncertainty and anxiety. A literary “there, there”, if you will.
As Korean culture has garnered substantial interest from Western countries through K-pop, K-drama and K-beauty, it would seem that K-literature benefits from this phenomenon as well.
Jane Lawson of Penguin Random House says, “The increased interest in Korean literature is completely international … Also the genre of healing fiction — a subgenre of cosy fiction which is huge right now — originated in Korea (K-healers) and the audience for these books [is] highly engaged on social media where most of these books are discussed and recommended.”
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Han’s monumental win has certainly driven demand for Korean literature globally. As her books fly off the shelves, sales for other translated works are seeing positive growth too. A distinct uptick across the board proves that the world is very much fascinated by the collective stories of the Korean people and culture, no matter what the genre.
And as bookworm celebrities continue to share their reading lists with global fans — Barnes & Noble in Waterbury, the US, once set up a dedicated rack to showcase titles recommended by RM of boy band BTS — we can bet this interest in Korean fiction will continue to flourish.
