"Is This What Koreans Are Reading?" Lists Shared Among Chinese Readers [K-Holic]

Korean Literature Fever in China
"Korean novels are emotionally dense"
Interest Continues After Han Kang's Nobel Prize in Literature

Editor's NoteInterest in Korean culture is rapidly growing around the world. Korean-related products and content—such as K-Food and K-Beauty—are permeating the daily lives of overseas consumers, far beyond just niche fan bases. [K-holic] sheds light on the "Korean wave" observed across the globe and explores why international consumers are turning their attention to Korea.

"Korean novels are dense with emotion, and many works deal with weighty realities. For those who are highly empathetic, it’s a good idea to prepare yourself emotionally before reading."

Recently, posts recommending Korean literature have been appearing in succession on Chinese social networking services (SNS). With an increasing number of posts reviewing works by rating or recommending them and sharing impressions, Korean literature is emerging as a new focus of interest for Chinese readers.

K-Literature Heats Up Chinese SNS... Even Top Actors Recommend It

Chinese actress Seo Yakham is recommending the short story collection Summer Outside by writer Kim Aeran. Weibo

On platforms like Xiaohongshu in China, posts such as "Ranking of Korean Women's Literature," "Recommended Korean Literature I’ve Read," and "Korean Novel Rankings" are being uploaded one after another. Some posts have received thousands of "likes," reflecting strong interest among local readers.

One user commented, "If you’re curious about why Korean literature resonates with so many and sparks such active discussion, begin with these works that delve deeply into society's issues and strike a chord." They specifically recommended "Human Acts" by Han Kang and "Please Look After Mom" by Shin Kyung-sook. The user continued, "If you enjoy a particular work, I suggest seeking out more books by that author. Han Kang, Kim Aeran, and Choi Eunyoung are already well-known, trusted writers who've published multiple great works." Such responses demonstrate that Korean works, which deeply capture social realities and human emotions, are resonating with Chinese readers.

Additionally, Chinese readers have mentioned works such as "The Convenience Store That Makes You Uncomfortable" by Kim Hoyeon, "Flight" by Kim Aeran, and "Bright Night" by Choi Eunyoung as representative recommendations. In particular, popular Chinese actress Seo Yakham introduced Kim Aeran’s short story collection "Summer Outside" on her vlog, further attracting local readers’ interest.

Multiple Nominations for International Literary Awards... K-Literature’s Rising Global Status

Recommendations for Korean literature are continuously being posted on Chinese social media platforms. Xiaohongshu

This growing interest among Chinese readers corresponds with the elevated global stature of Korean literature. In particular, in 2024, Han Kang became the first Korean ever to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, marking a major turning point for Korean literature in the global publishing market.

Even after the Nobel win, Korean authors have continued to make their presence felt on international stages by earning major literary award nominations. Notably, last month, the novel "Midnight Timetable" by Jeong Bora was shortlisted for the Ursula K. Le Guin Prize for Fiction, a prominent U.S. science fiction literary award. The winner will be announced on October 21, 2026.

Additionally, "The Scarlet Sword" and "Midnight Timetable" by Jeong Bora, "Savior at Night" by Cheon Seonran, and "The Star of Mercia" by Kim Seongil were among the final nominees for the 2026 Locus Award in the Translated Novel category. The Locus Award ranks as a highly prestigious honor in the science fiction literary world, on par with the Nebula Award, Hugo Award, and Philip K. Dick Award. Although none of the Korean works ultimately won, it is notable that four out of the ten final shortlisted works in the translated fiction category were written by Korean authors, demonstrating the greatly elevated international standing of Korean literature.

Expansion of K-Literature Abroad... Now Translated into 44 Languages

Citizens are cooling off from the heat at Kyobo Bookstore Gwanghwamun Branch in Jongno-gu, Seoul.

As a result of these developments, the overseas expansion of Korean literature continues to grow steadily. The Literature Translation Institute of Korea, established in 1996, has supported the translation and publication of a total of 2,404 Korean literary works up to last year. From 2001 to 2013, the annual number of translated and published works remained in double digits, but after exceeding 110 for the first time in 2014, the figure has consistently been in the triple digits. Last year, a record-high 194 works were supported.

The number of target language regions for translation has also increased dramatically. While Korean literature translations began in just eight languages in 2001, by last year, they had expanded to include 44, greatly broadening Korea’s reach to worldwide readers. Although language barriers have long been considered an obstacle for Korean literature’s global expansion, expanded translation support and growing global interest in Korean content are steadily widening the international readership.

In line with this trend, the government is also increasing its support for the overseas expansion of Korean publishing content. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Publication Industry Promotion Agency announced the "K-Book Global 100 Project" in April. This initiative will invest an annual budget of KRW 1 billion to support the export of at least 100 representative Korean books abroad over five years. The project supports every stage—from planning and translation to rights consulting, overseas publication, and local marketing. For this year, a total of 20 project plans and 90 book titles have been selected.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.