[Book View] Comforting Hearts Weary from Godsaeng with Novels

[The World Through Books]
Novels Dominate the Bestseller Lists
Korean Fiction Surges After Han Kang's Nobel Prize
A Turning Point That Proves the Potential of Korean Literature

The publishing industry, which has long lamented each year as "the worst recession since Dangun," is finally showing signs of vitality. In particular, novel sales have risen sharply, and the upward trend extends across literary books, including poetry collections. After a prolonged slump, the faces of literary publishers are once again bright with smiles.

Recently, novels have dominated the top ranks of bestseller lists. Among the top ten overall bestsellers at Kyobo Bookstore for the first half of the year, half were novels, and Korean novel sales last month increased by about 48% compared to the same period last year. Especially notable was the fourth week of July, when eight out of the top ten bestsellers at Kyobo Bookstore were novels, including the top four spots. The titles were "Gagongbeom," "Honmono," "Mosun," "Annyeongira Geuraesseo," "Geumryu," "First Summer, Wanju," "Orbit," and "The Boy Is Coming." While there have been slight increases in the popularity of novels in line with the times, or occasional surges for specific works by famous authors, it is rare to see so many novels simultaneously receive such widespread attention.

How did literature, once dismissed as "useless" and overshadowed by practical books, regain the spotlight? Reviewing bestseller trends in recent years, self-help books centered on the "Godsaeng" lifestyle first gained popularity, followed by psychology books that comforted those weary from competition, and then novels that prompted readers to reflect on the essence of life regained their place. In 2020, books about achieving greater wealth, such as "The Having" and "The Nature of Money," took the top two annual bestseller spots. However, the following year, novels like "Dallergut Dream Department Store" (2021) and "The Uncomfortable Convenience Store" (2022), which transcend reality or deliver warm inspiration, climbed to the top ranks. In 2023, practical books ("Sayno's Teachings," "The One Thing") were again strong, but in 2024, the Nobel Prize win by author Han Kang ushered in a new golden age for novels. This pattern reveals a cycle between the pursuit of self-improvement and the need for rest.

It is particularly noteworthy that Korean novels are leading this trend. In Kyobo Bookstore's August monthly bestseller top ten, five were novels, and among these, three-"Honmono" by Hana Sung, "Jamong Salgu Club" by Han Roro, and "Annyeongira Geuraesseo" by Kim Aeran-were Korean novels. In July as well, five out of six novels in the top ten ("Honmono," "Annyeongira Geuraesseo," "Geumryu," "First Summer, Wanju," and "The Boy Is Coming") were Korean works. This indicates not just a revival of the novel genre, but a renewed focus on Korean novels themselves. According to Yes24, sales of Korean novels from January to August this year rose by 51.5% compared to the same period last year.

Behind this phenomenon is Han Kang's Nobel Prize in Literature. Analysts note that her award served as a turning point, expanding the readership from literary enthusiasts to the general public. For readers who had grown weary of recent trends focusing on grand narratives or personal stories, Han Kang's Nobel win provided a reason to pick up novels once again. A sense of pride in Korean literature's position as a major force-rather than a peripheral player-on the world stage also influenced readers' choices. Furthermore, following Han Kang's milestone, the emergence of young, notable writers like Hana Sung has drawn increasing attention to the enjoyment and value of novels, further fueling their popularity.

Literature is once again serving as a refuge for those exhausted by the relentless pursuit of the "Godsaeng" lifestyle. With global recognition and the rise of young authors, Korean literature stands at a decisive turning point. Will this trend prove fleeting, or will it lead to sustained growth? Korean literature now faces a new challenge. One of the greatest benefits literature offers is the understanding of lives and others' experiences that we have not lived ourselves. In today's Korean society, marked by sharp divisions and conflicts, we hope that literature can offer a moment of respite-and that more people will share in this much-needed pause.