Hangang's Boy Who Comes Selected as the Best Book of the 21st Century

Survey of 106 Authors and Publishing Experts by Aladin

Han Kang, who won the Nobel Prize in Literature last year, was selected as the author of the best book of the 21st century by 106 domestic authors and publishing experts for her representative work Sonyeoni Onda (The Boy Who Came).

Online bookstore Aladin revealed the results of the survey titled "The Best Books of the 21st Century: Books to Remember, Books to Share," which reflects on the first 25 years of the 21st century, on the 15th in celebration of 2025. Aladin asked 106 recommenders related to books, including authors, translators, publishers, researchers, activists, and journalists, to select the top 10 books published in the 2000s. Aladin requested that the books be chosen based on their influence on the current world and their importance to be read more by future generations.

The respondents recommended a total of 809 books, with Sonyeoni Onda receiving the most recommendations from 19 people. Chaesikjuuija (The Vegetarian), which brought Han Kang the honor of the 2019 Booker Prize (International category), ranked 9th.

Following Sonyeoni Onda, feminist scholar Jeong Heejin's Feminism-ui Dojeon (The Challenge of Feminism) took 2nd place with 10 votes.

American philosopher Judith Butler's Gender Trouble and anthropologist Kim Hyunkyung's Saram, Jiseok, Hwantae (People, Place, Hospitality) both received 8 votes, tying for 3rd place.

Poet Kim Hyesoon's poetry collection Nalgae Hwansangtong (Wing Phantom Pain) with 7 votes, Thomas Piketty's 21segi Jabon (Capital in the 21st Century), Lee Minjin's novel Patchinko, and Kim Choyup's Uliga Bit-ui Sokkuro Gal Su Eopdamyeon (If We Cannot Travel at the Speed of Light) each with 6 votes followed.

Chaesikjuuija (The Vegetarian) tied for 9th place with five votes alongside Taiwanese-American science fiction writer Ted Chiang's Dangsine Insaeng-ui Iyagi (Story of Your Life), American writer Rebecca Solnit's Meolgo-do Gakkaun (A Field Guide to Getting Lost), Chinese-American anthropologist Anna Lowenhaupt Tsing's Segye Kkeut-ui Beoseot (The Mushroom at the End of the World), and American political philosopher Michael Sandel's Jeong-ui-ran Mueos-inga (Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do?).

The full list of 809 books and the recommenders can be found on the Aladin website.