Despite the fact that the pandemic has put a significant dent in global travel, Korean literature has continued to embark on daring journeys beyond national borders.
According to figures released on Tuesday by the Literature Translation Institute of Korea, 34 works of Korean literature have sold more than 5,000 copies each in foreign book markets during the past five years.
Cho Nam-ju's novel "Kim Ji-young, Born 1982," published in 2016, will have sold more than 300,000 copies in foreign markets by the end of 2020. Additionally, the article has prepared the path for it to be recognized as a consistent seller in Japan, with more than 200,000 copies having been sold there since its release in 2018.
Han Kang's "The Vegetarian," which sold more than 160,000 copies in 13 foreign languages, came in second place, followed by Sohn Won-pyung's "Almond", which won the 2020 translation novel category selected by bookstores in Japan. Han Kang's "The Vegetarian" came in second place, selling more than 160,000 copies in 13 foreign languages. The work set a new sales record in Japan, where it sold approximately 90,000 copies.
With more than 20,000 copies sold in Brazil alone, the Portuguese translation of Jeong Yu-Jeong's "The Origin of Species" has proven to be a global bestseller for the author.
During the period 2016 to 2020, a total of 658 literary works were translated into 37 different languages with the assistance of the agency. The figures were derived from a sales study of 492 pieces, which accounted for approximately 75% of the total.
In addition to the three authors, 16 works produced in 2020 sold more than 5,000 copies per year on average around the world, on average. The German translation of Kim Young-ha's "A Murderer's Guide to Memorization," published in 2020, was particularly successful, selling more than 10,000 copies in the first year of release. In the same year, the piece was nominated for two German literary awards.
According to LTI Korea, different genre preferences and interests were noticeable in the global sales figures that were given to them.
Readers in France demonstrated a strong interest in the mystery and thriller genres, purchasing works by best-selling thriller authors Seo Mi-ae and Kim Un-soo, among others.
Germany saw a significant increase in interest in Korean spiritual and psychological essays, with the book "Love for Imperfect Things," written by Buddhist monk and Zen meditation teacher Haemin, selling over 15,000 copies.
In English-speaking nations, Korean graphic novels such as "Grass" by Keum Suk Gendry Kim and "Moms" by Ma Yeong-shin were in the spotlight, as were other graphic novels from Korea. In addition to winning Best International Book at the Harvey Honors, which is one of the most prestigious awards in the comic business, "Moms" received a boost from the publication of the book.
Since its publication in 2020, the novel "Possession" by writer and director Lee Chang-dong has sold almost 50,000 copies in China, according to the author. Chinese film enthusiasts, according to the agency, have recently developed an interest in Lee's literary works as well as his films.
In a statement to The Korea Herald on Tuesday, a representative from LTI Korea said that "we have witnessed 80 percent of our selected works being offered publication directly by international publishers, which is a very good indication." "I hope that the increasing popularity of Korean literature would serve as a motivator for young rookie writers to pursue prospects for publication of their works in foreign countries."
LTI Korea also stated that the plan to assist the publication of Korean literature in foreign countries for this year will be developed in light of the characteristics identified via the analysis of the accumulated data.
