Kim Young-ha’s Empire of Light to be Published in Five Languages

Kim Young-ha has attracted the attention of foreign publishers since the appearance of his novel I Have the Right to Destroy Myself in the late 1990s. His works are set to be readily accessible to a world-wide audience in 2009. Empire of Light has already been published in German (Verlagsgruppe Random House GmbH, 2008), then in Japanese (Futami Shobo Publishers Co., Ltd., 2008), and in French (Philippe Picquier, 2009). It is currently awaiting publication in Dutch and English. In January 2009, a special event was held by the Korean Cultural Center in Paris to celebrate the publication of the French edition of Empire of Light. The Managing Editor of the Philippe Picquier publishing house, which has published various works by Kim Young-ha apart from Empire of Light, expressed his sense of anticipation regarding Kim Young-ha’s work with the words, “Korean authors inhabit a unique literary world distinct from that of Chinese or Japanese writers. This is just the right moment for Korean literature to be properly introduced into France and brought to the attention of French readers.” He explained that through I Have the Right to Destroy Myself, it has been possible to break with stereotypes of Korean literature, and revealed that a French version of Quiz Show is also scheduled for publication in 2010. (Coverage by Kim Hyeonju, KLTI overseas correspondent in France)

Korea’s Strength in Books,
Language Teaching Materials, and
Children’s Books

The Cakewalk Series – English Grammar for Kids, The Native Speaks Easily, and If You Get to Know About New York, You Become Friends with English are all books that have been exported to China by the Korean agency EntersKorea during the second half of 2008. Language teaching materials from Korea, a country that places great emphasis on education in comparison to other countries, are proving very popular with Chinese parents as well. During 2008, PK agency continued this trend by also exporting titles such as Happy Games for English Learning and Children's Dictionary for Beginners – Words' Dance in the Stories to Taiwan. Children’s books too are receiving a favorable response overseas. Yeowon Media exported children’s books to a total of seven different countries in the second half of 2008 alone. Exported works include Do They Talk? to Denmark, How Do I Look? to France, and Let’s Play, and Busy Ducks, Busy Fingers to Brazil. In addition, books like Aladdin and the Magic Lamp and Pinocchio were exported to India. It is of special note that stories which originated elsewhere have been exported by way of Korea. Shinwon Agency has exported books such as Shikkaek Yori – Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter and Origami Collection to China and Japan, demonstrating that Korean practical books are also popular. Moreover, in just the second half of 2008, they exported nearly 100 different Korean books to various countries including China, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain.

The Overseas Korean Literature Market Today

Alongside children’s books and language materials, Korean works of literature are also steadily making headway abroad. The German publishing house Edition Peperkorn, which published the work of novelist Jeon Sang-guk earlier this year, plans to publish Kim Sung-ok’s anthology of stories, Journey to Mujin, in May 2009. It also plans to publish the work of novelist Sung Sukje next year. Bloomsbury USA will publish Tongue (2007) by Jo Kyung-ran in June 2009. Buddhist Monk Beop Jeong’s books are maintaining popularity in various countries including China, Japan, and Taiwan. Without Possession was published in Japan in 2001 (The Eastern Publishing Group) and in China in 2005 (Tianxiazhi Publishers), while Flowers Blossom in the Mountain and May All Beings Be Happy were published at the same time in December 2008 by 21st Century Publishing House, China. In addition, May All Beings Be Happy has been published not only in Taiwan (Yuan-Liou Publishing Co., Ltd., 2008) and Japan (Reitaku University Press, 2007), but preparations are underway for its entry into English-speaking countries as well.