10 book recommendations in different genres for the avid Kpop and Kdrama consumer:
Another book recommendations post! Please note that I myself am not Korean nor have I ever even been to Korea. These are just some books by Korean writers that I enjoyed reading.
If I Had Your Face by Frances Cha
- contemporary fiction which focuses on the lives of four female and orphaned roommates in Seoul
- focus on bullying, the toxicity of the beauty industry, class stratification, prostitution, suicide, and Korean media
Kim Ji-Young, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-Joo
- contemporary fiction and work in translation that traces the life of a young Korean woman and the misogynistic systems disadvantaged her
- focus on systemic misogyny, traditional gender roles in Korea, and millennial Korean culture
XOXO by Axie Oh
- contemporary YA romance where a Korean-American girl transfers to a boarding school in Seoul which schools elite musicians and idols
- fluffy romance and forbidden love trope, with a focus on the Korean pop music industry
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
- multigenerational family drama, which traces the experiences of members of a Korean family through multiple decades since the annexation of Korea by Japan
- focus on poverty, family secrets, Korean politics, and Korean history among other more intense themes that are too many to list
I Guess I Live Here Now by Claire Ahn
- YA contemporary about a Korean-American girl who gets uprooted to Seoul and gets in touch with modern Korean culture
- super fun, focuses on the way trends are set in Korea and the Hallyu wave, as well as the less pretty side of Korean culture too
Beasts of a Little Land by Juhea Kim
- historical fiction which traces the lives of two individuals whose fates become intertwined over decades during the annexation of Korea and the Korean war
- focus on Korean history, modern versus traditional Korea, social stratification, and war in Korea
Once Upon a K-Prom by Kat Cho
- YA contemporary romance where a Korean girl is asked to prom by the biggest kpop idol in who also was once her best friend
- friends-to-strangers-to-lovers, focus on the idol industry and Korean pop culture, super cute vibes
The Red Palace by June Hur
- historical mystery thriller set in the Joseon period in Korea as the main character suddenly grapples with court politics and some murders
- fast-paced, immersive regal vibes with a focus on the time and setting and the chase for a killer
Human Acts by Han Kang
- historical fiction work in translation set during the student uprising period which follows the aftermath of the death of a young student
- focus on totalitarianism, state oppression, censorship, and political unrest in Korea, and includes graphic depictions of death
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
- memoir following Zauner's relationship with her Korean mother and her dealing with her mother's lost battle with cancer
- focus on food, culture, and music and how Zauner reconnects with her mother and heritage via Korean cuisine
