Since I read a lot of literature and have been reading purely novels in Korean lately to improve my ability in the language and get a better grasp of sentence structure and reading, I decided to put together a few of my Korean book favourites that if you are learning Korean too, I recommend you give a read if you want to begin improving your reading and translation skills. It may take some time to fully understand them, but perseverance always pays off!
I Have The Right To Destroy Myself [나는 나를 파괴할 권리가 있다] by Kim Young-Ha
This is one of the first fully Korean books I began to read and translate myself and though it is a slow process when you are just a beginner, it’s amazing to see how far you can come. It has a very deep story line and one that will shake you to the core that I really recommend if you want or like a darker plot. This book follows a nameless man who narrates and follows the life of the wounded minds of a dark city.
The Hen Who Dreamed She Could Fly [마당을 나온 암탉] by Hwang Sun-Mi
This was an unusual story for me to read but it was a great choice when it came to studying reading. This was a story lead by a Hen’s perspective and talks on things such as bullying, protectiveness and other life issues. I really enjoyed translating this read, even from an animals mind.
The Vegetarian [채식주의자] by Han Kang
I really love odd concept books so this was a great read for me, but I do know it will not be to everyone’s tastes. Han Kang is a top Korean author and this book follows the perspective of how even the most ordinary people can change very fast. I recommend it nonetheless because it was a great translation.
Our Twisted Hero [우리들의 일그러진 영웅] by Yi Mon-Yol
This novel was also not something I would usually read but it was a very distinct book. It’s narrated by a young boy who moves from a big city to the country and finds his life going in an unexpected direction.
