Korean Literature: In the News & in the World

As fall descended and temperatures cooled, Korean literature stayed hot in October 2021. Korean authors, translated works, and notable events continued to gain momentum in the literary world as the year inches closer to an end. From deserving works receiving recognition to powerful new words filling fresh pages, we have compiled the most important and newsworthy happenings in Korean literature during the month of October.

We curate the most significant moments in Korean literature each month and bring them to you in a succinct highlight reel of achievement. 

Without further adieu, let us dive into the noteworthy moments in Korean literature for the month of October and November 2021, including newly published works, translations taking Korean literature to a broader audience, and so much more.

Bo-Young Kim Longlisted for the National Book Award

The National Book Awards has announced their 2021 winners.  On that esteemed list this year, Bo-Young Kim, author of On the Origin of Species and Other Stories (translated from the Korean by Joungmin Lee Comfort and Sora Kim-Russel) has been longlisted for Translated Literature. Bo-Young Kim is no stranger to awards, in 2004 she won the inaugural Korean Science & Technology Creative Writing Award with her first published novella in 2004 and has served as a consultant to Parasite director Bong Joon Ho’s earlier sci-film Snowpiercer.  She has novellas forthcoming from HarperCollins in 2021. 

Modern Korean Literature Translation Awards

Translated works from the realm of Korean literature have opened the floodgates to a much wider audience. Not only are these newfound audiences linguistically varied, but they are also unique geographically, culturally, and so on. In other words, the most poignant works of Korean authors are now able to reach entirely new groups of people, propelling Korean literature forward to a degree not before seen.

This year marked the 52nd Modern Korean Literature Translation Awards, which honors the most noteworthy English translations of Korean works. These tireless translators are integral to the advancement of Korean literature on a global stage and include Grand Prizes in both fiction and poetry, as well as a Commendation Award in fiction.

This year’s winners, respectively, are Youngjae Josephine Bae, Joanne Park, and Clare Richards.

Young Authors Gain Popularity

Korean artists have long been renowned for their impact on the cultures of countries around the world. From K-Pop to lauded films, the originality and poignancy of Korean creatives have carved out its own distinct and respected niche everywhere from America to Japan.

One of the latest examples of this widespread popularity is the traction young Korean authors have found in the Japanese publishing industry. Works such as Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982, by Cho Nam-Joo, have sparked life in the stagnant Japanese literature market and led to a burgeoning niche of Korean literature in the country.

With more than 10 Japanese publishers embracing Korean works in the last year alone, the outlook for these young authors and their worldwide success is bright.

Home of Literary Legend Converted into Museum

Park Kyung-ni was one of Korea’s most integral and influential literary figures and will now be immortalized thanks to the conversion of her home (and Toji Culture Center) into the Park Kyung-ni Museum.

This new monument will feature a permanent exhibition displaying the novelist’s many literary accomplishments. In all, the museum will include highlights from her more than 50 years of literary excellence.

A New Exhibition in Tokyo

A three-day special event is being hosted by the Tokyo Korean Cultural Center’s Gallery MI. This exhibition, which will be displaying 78 Korean books, hopes to introduce Japanese publishers and readers to Korean literature.

The goal of this introduction is two-fold—to expose those of another culture to the work of Korean authors and to create opportunities for Korean books to enter the Japanese market. As such, the books were intentionally selected to provide a well-rounded representation of Korean literature to those unfamiliar with it, as well as certain books believed to appeal to Japanese readers.

Many of the stories included a focus on the difficulties many Koreans face; thereby, exposing those unaware of such issues to how Koreans face and overcome such struggles.

The importance of Korean literature has always been obvious to those within the country and those tapped into the literary scene. This fact is evident today, as Korean authors, like Park Kyung-ni, who left tremendous impacts on the literary world and culture as a whole are honored.

That same influence is now reaching a global audience and having a similar effect on those previously unaware of the potency and power that Korean literature carries. From the stellar translations formally awarded to the growing market in countries around the world, the widespread influence of Korean literature is evident.