8 Unmissable Korean Books Out From August 2024-January 2025!

On my mother’s birthday, I decided to take her to the lovely little town of Padova in the north of Italy. There, we stopped by Feltrinelli, one of the biggest Italian bookstore chains. As we roamed around the bookshelves, we were pleased to see the huge amount of Korean books that have been translated into Italian. We kept picking up title after title, wondering which one should be our next read and sooner rather than later, a pattern emerged. Covers with houses, bookshops, pharmacies, local shops. Characters that are looking for answers, soothing plots.

Ah, we thought, that’s the rise of “healing fiction”.

But What Exactly Is “Healing Fiction”?

The idea of “healing fiction” was devised by James Hillman, a renowned American psychologist, who believed in the therapeutic potential of storytelling and narrative in psychology. However, more recently, “healing fiction” has been used to describe the rise in popularity of novels that provide the reader with a safe space in which a simple, but heartwarming tale unravels. With plots that tackle the little discoveries and joys as well as the struggles of everyday life, the goal of these books is to encourage and heal the reader. They are highly relatable as their tales of empathy and comfort seem to enchant readers all over the world.

These books aren’t exclusively Korean. I’ve mentioned the lovely Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa here several times but another incredibly famous title belonging to this category is Matt Haig’s The Midnight Library. Haig’s latest title has sold more than 9 million copies worldwide^[1], reaching the list of bestsellers in South Korea in 2021^[2]. Indeed, four out of ten bestsellers at Kyobo Book Centre (the largest Korean bookshop chain) in the first half of 2022 belonged to the “Healing Fiction” category^[3].

Does That Mean We’ll Have More Korean Books Translated Into English?

No one knows exactly why this fever started but it’s here to stay. Thanks to this growing interest, more and more Korean literature is being translated into English. For instance, Penguin Randon House UK has already released two titles this year with another four excellent titles coming up and with Cheon Seon-ran’s A Thousand Blues scheduled for release in April 2025^[4]. But these aren’t the only ones. That’s why I’ve put together a list of eight unmissable Korean books that are being released in the next six months.

So, shall we talk about the new K-literature titles that will soon be hitting our bookshelves? Let’s go!

Under each book, you’ll find the official synopsis so you can choose your favourite ones as you go!

Romancing on Jeju by Park Hyun-joo

Translated by Paige Morris
Release date: August 20th, 2024

Romancing on Jeju is a good mix of mystery and drama and a lot darker than your everyday romance. Don’t let the happy cover fool you: if you’re looking for a straightforward rom-com, this isn’t it. This promises to be a thrilling read that highlights the importance and beauty of friendship.

Left: Book cover of Romancing on Jeju (Credit: Amazon Crossing)

Romi is an illustrator and hopeless romantic. When she can’t stop obsessing over a brief encounter with a handsome stranger, there’s just one thing to do: hop on a plane and find him. But Romi’s not leaving without her two best friends. Hadam, a budding filmmaker, suggests the trip in the first place. Facing her fear of failure, she envisions Romi’s search for love as the perfect subject for her first documentary. And Chakyung, marketing pro, sees a chance to build a new ad campaign for her cosmetics client—plus get some quality “me time” to figure out why she’s secretly so unhappy. The journey from Seoul to Jeju Island goes off without a hitch. The emerald waterfalls and sandy beaches are a balm to the trio’s souls. But then misunderstandings, mistaken identities, and a mysterious stalker stir up trouble in paradise. Will a conspiracy to nab a legendary queen bee keep these friends from discovering real love—and purpose?^[5]

Yeonnam-Dong’s Smiley Laundromat by Kim Ji-yun

Translated by Shanna Tan
Release date: August 29th, 2024

Another title from the “Healing Fiction” wave, Yeonnam-Dong’s Smiley Laundromat is being recommended to readers who loved Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop ( *clears throat* a.k.a. me).

The book was released in May in Italy to a warm reception. If you have ever faced loneliness, exhaustion, or frustration, the universe that Kim Ji-yun created will surely resonate with you. A heartwarming and moving read that brings a bit of magic to the everyday stories that surround us — and encourages us to be a bit kinder to our fellow man.

Left: Book cover of Yeonnam-Dong’s Smiley Laundromat (Credit: Quercus Publishing)

Yeonnam-Dong’s Smiley Laundromat is a place where the extraordinary stories of ordinary residents unfold. Situated at the heart of rapidly gentrifying district of Seoul, it’s a haven of peace and reflection for many locals. And when a notebook is left behind there, it becomes a place that brings people together. One by one, customers start jotting down candid diary entries, opening their hearts and inviting acts of kindness from neighbours who were once just faces in the crowd. But there is a darker story behind the notebook, and before long the laundromat’s regulars are teaming up to solve the mystery and put the world to rights. Instantly capturing the hearts of Korean readers, this is a novel about the preciousness of human relationships and the power of solidarity in a world that is increasingly cold, fast-paced, and virtual.^[6]

The Proposal by Bae Myung-hoon

Translated by Stella Kim
Release date: September 13th, 2024

Let’s all thank the stars for Honford Star, the publishing house dedicated to translating and releasing East Asian literature in Europe. So far, they have offered Kim Tong-in’s Sweet Potato, Bora Chung’s Your Utopia, and Bae Myung-hoon’s previous novels, Tower and Launch Something!, just to mention a few.

Their next release is a perfect mix of sci-fi and romance: The Proposal promises to be a touching read that, beyond its whimsical setting, will make us reflect on our innate ability to love and our struggle to convey our emotions honestly.

Left: Book cover of The Proposal (Credit: Honford Star)

In The Proposal, a space opera romance set against the backdrop of a looming colossal war between Earth and a mysterious adversary, a story of love unfolds through a series of intimate letters. This poignant novella explores how a space-born soldier’s gradual involvement with an escalating conflict intertwines with a heartfelt proposal to his Earth-born partner, revealing the intricate dance of love and duty at the edge of an interstellar conflict. Translated by Stella Kim, The Proposal reflects on the distances that separate us—both physically and emotionally—and celebrates the resilience of the human spirit, ever striving to overcome these divides.^[7]

Marigold Mind Laundry by Jungeun Yun

Translated by Shanna Tan
Release date: October 3rd, 2024

Every single K-literature fan has heard of the Marigold Mind Laundry — after all, it was a major bestseller in Korea. Yun’s novel might have benefitted from being another title in the “Healing Fiction” fever but it deserves the attention it has received.

Marigold Mind Laundry was one of the titles I found at Feltrinelli with my mother. A powerful, compelling read guided by Yun’s intimate prose, it reminds us of the importance of both joy and sadness in the construction of the self. Most importantly, Yun supports us in finding the courage we need to face our own demons.

Left: Book cover of Marigold Mind Laundry (Credit: Transworld Publishers)

After young Jieun accidentally misuses her powers, causing her beloved family to vanish, she lives a million restless lives in search of them. Overnight, in the village of Marigold on top of a hill, she conjures up her Mind Laundry, where she cleanses painful experiences from the heart, transferring them into stains on a T-shirt and turning them into dazzling red petals. We meet five wounded souls: a frustrated young filmmaker; a tortured social-media influencer; a distraught mother who has discovered her husband’s other family; a young woman two-timed by her lover, and Yeonghui, a victim of bullying, who works as a delivery man to escape his pain in routine. After washing the pain and ironing their creases, Jieun discovers an astonishing revelation that will change her life.^[8]

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Blood of the Old Kings by Kim Sung-il

Translated by Anton Hur
Release date: October 10th, 2024

If you’re looking for something outside the “Healing Fiction” realm, here’s something for you. Kim Sung-il promises a unique universe full of magic, compelling characters, and thrilling adventures. His prose is straightforward and his world-building skills are unparalleled. Add Anton Hur’s skilled translation to the mix and you have a novel that I’m counting down the days to, surely, devour in one sitting.

Left: Book cover of Blood of the Old Kings (Credit: Little, Brown Book Group)

In an Empire run on necromancy, dead sorcerers are the lifeblood. Their corpses are wrapped in chains and drained of magic to feed the unquenchable hunger for imperial conquest. Born with magic, Arienne has become resigned to her dark fate. But when the voice of a long-dead sorcerer begins to speak inside her head, she listens. There may be another future for her, if she’s willing to fight for it. Miles away, beneath a volcano, a seven-eyed dragon also wears the Empire’s chains. Before the imperial fist closed around their lands, it was the people’s sacred guardian. Loran, a widowed swordswoman, is the first to kneel before the dragon in decades. She comes with a desperate plea, and will leave with a sword of dragon-fang in hand and a great purpose before her.^[9]

I Decided to Live as Me by Kim Soo-hyun

Translated by Anton Hur
Release date: November 19th, 2024

A lovely non-fiction addition to this list — one that you need more than you might think.

BTS’s Jungkook has talked about I Decided to Live as Me on Bon Voyage! and, as you can imagine, if he recommends a book, it’s definitely going to be a hit. But credit also goes to Kim Soo-hyun who shares her own tale in an adorably illustrated book and cheerfully encourages us to embrace and stand up for ourselves. Considering that the society we live in is fueled by a social media addiction that influences the way we see our lives, our bodies, and our desires, Soo-hyun offers an antidote that can help us silence the chaos around us and listen to our own voices.

Left: Book cover of I Decided to Live as Me (Credit: Ebury Publishing)

As soon as Kim Suhyun graduated into the adult world, she faced a harsh reality. Everywhere she looked people stepped on each other to get ahead, obsessed over money, and judged others based on the unrealistic standards they saw on social media. It seemed impossible not to compare herself to others and feel that she was ever good enough. With words of comfort and charming illustrations throughout, Kim Suhyun will inspire you on your own journey of self-love, self-acceptance and self-compassion. Blending self-help and memoir, I Decided to Live as Me will help you free yourself from the pressures of living up to other people’s expectations and focus on what truly matters: living not for anyone else, but for yourself.^[10]

The Rainfall Market by You Yeong-gwang

Translated by Slin Jung
Release date: November 28th, 2024

Have you seen this cover? I’m obsessed with book covers and this one just grabbed my attention immediately. As you can see, this is another bestseller that belongs to the “Healing Fiction” category (this also applies to the next title. Korean Newspaper Hankook Ilbo has even written an article, saying that, nowadays, being a “Healing Fiction” book is almost a requirement if you want to reach the bestseller lists).

I hope you aren’t tired of this kind of story yet because The Rainfall Market promises to be a fantastical and uplifting read, with Dokkaebi (goblins) and magic galore. If you’re currently wondering if the path you’re walking on is the right one for you, this might be a book that will offer you solace and food for thought.

Definitely added this one to my wishlist.

Left: Book cover of The Rainfall Market (Credit: Penguin Books)

On the first day of the monsoon an old ramshackle building appears. This is The Rainfall Market. Inside you will find magical bookstores, hairdressers, perfumeries and anything your heart desires. But you cannot enter without an invitation. Serin, who lives in a small flat with her mother and dreams of a bigger, better life, can’t believe her luck when she receives a ticket inviting her to step inside The Rainfall Market. Once inside she will have the opportunity to swap her life for a new one. A better one. Accompanied by Isha the cat and followed by a mysterious shadow, Serin tentatively steps inside. There she is told she has just one week to choose the perfect life and find true happiness. However, there’s a catch. If she doesn’t find her dream life, she’ll be trapped inside the market forever…^[11]

The Healing Season of Pottery by Yeon So-min

Translated by Clare Richards
Release date: January 30th, 2025

I think this will be a good read for all artists out there who have found a safe haven in the soothing routine of artistic endeavours. I believe K-literature fans have been looking forward to this title as much as Marigold Mind Laundry. By reading the synopsis, The Healing Season of Pottery seems to follow the same idea as Days at the Morisaki Bookshop: it’s okay to have a break. It’s okay to stop and hit reset.

Another book with a beautiful cover and an inspiring plot that will surely warm up our winter.

Left: Book cover of The Healing Season of Pottery (Credit: Penguin Books)

She rubbed the spoiled clay with her fingertips. Like a wound as it heals, the traces faded, and had soon vanished completely, as if they’d never been there at all. Burnt out by her newswriting job, Jungmin abruptly quits; she’s worked tirelessly for years and she needs to make a change. Now, after months of hibernation, it’s time to put her life back together. Venturing out into the streets near Seoul, she stumbles upon the Soyo pottery workshop. Drawn in by its light and warmth, and the smell of clay and coffee, Jungmin feels something unfurl within her… Here, everyone has a story to share, and as the seasons change, Jungmin returns to herself. Pot by pot, plate by plate, Jungmin discovers that as her hands become busier, her mind becomes calmer, and her heart opens up like never before. ^[12]

With Korean books being translated into different languages more often, we’re bound to find more inspiring, enchanting tales to accompany our K-drama thirst. Which titles are you looking forward to the most? Share in the comments what titles you’ll be reading and why!