Korean Books That Will Teach You About Life

Orange Lightning

Korean literature offers a captivating glimpse into Korean society, exploring themes of family, resilience, and social issues.

1

Almond

This novel tells the story of Yunjae, a 16-year-old boy who has a condition called alexithymia, which makes it difficult for him to identify & emotions.

2

The Vegetarian

This unsettling but important  novel tells the story of Yeong-hye, a seemingly ordinary housewife who decides to become a vegetarian.

3

Pachinko

This sprawling historical novel tells the story of the Sun family, who emigrated from Korea to Japan in the early 20th century.

4

Please Look After Mom

This heartbreaking novel tells the story of a family who is coming to terms with the disappearance of their mother.

5

Human Acts

This novel is a fictionalized account of the Gwangju Uprising of 1980, a pro-democracy uprising in South Korea that was brutally suppressed by the military.

6

Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982

This feminist novel tells the story of Kim Ji-young, a woman who begins to exhibit symptoms of dissociative identity disorder after giving birth to her first child.

7

Our Happy Time

This coming-of-age novel tells the story of four high school friends who are navigating the complexities of friendship, love, and identity.