6 books by 5 Korean female authors - Traveling Psychiatrist

I recently returned from a week-long trip to Seoul. Although I had previously been on what I like to call “a cinematic journey to South Korea,” this was my first time actually setting foot in the country. It’s been four years since Parasite, directed by Bong Joon-ho, made history at the Academy Awards, winning Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay. It was the first South Korean film ever nominated in these major categories—and the first non-English language film to win Best Picture. Since then, I’ve watched many more South Korean films, listened to a range of Korean music (not just K-pop), and read six books by five Korean female authors—though I have yet to discover a book written by a Korean male author.

Books by Korean authors at Kyobo Bookstore in Seoul

Today, I’m sharing my thoughts on the books I’ve read by five Korean female authors so far. Of course, there are many other talented writers who aren’t included here—simply because I haven’t had the chance to explore their work yet.

I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki, by Baek Se-hee

Written by Baek Se-hee, this easy-to-read memoir was the first Korean book I ever read. Originally published in Korean in 2018 and translated into English in 2022, it offers a candid glimpse into the author’s struggles with dysthymia (persistent mild depression) through her recorded conversations with her psychiatrist.

A sequel, I Want to Die but I Still Want to Eat Tteokbokki: Further Conversations with My Psychiatrist, is due to be published in English in August 2024.

As a psychiatrist myself, I found this book particularly engaging. It also brought to mind the alarmingly high number of suicides among young Korean artists, including Song Yoo-jung, Choi Jin-sil, Kim Jong-hyun, Goo Hara, Cha In-ha, Sulli, and Oh In-hye.

There are likely multiple factors behind this tragic trend—both personal and societal. Many of these artists have faced severe online abuse, while mental illness remains a taboo subject in South Korea and is often left untreated. Despite the country’s remarkable economic progress, stigma surrounding mental health persists. It is therefore unsurprising that suicide rates remain significantly higher there than in many Western countries. According to the World Health Organization, South Korea had the fourth-highest suicide rate in the world in 2019 (28.6 per 100,000 people). Seoul’s Mapo Bridge, sadly nicknamed “The Bridge of Death” or “Suicide Bridge”, stands as a stark reminder of this ongoing issue.

In case you’re wondering, tteokbokki is a popular Korean street food made from chewy rice cakes simmered in a spicy red sauce — and it happens to be one of my personal favourites.

Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop, by Hwang Bo-reum

This is Hwang Bo-reum’s debut novel, first published in Korean in 2022 and translated into English soon after.

Set in a quaint neighbourhood of Seoul, the story follows a young woman who divorces her husband, leaves behind her corporate career, and opens a small bookshop. As a bibliophile myself, I loved following her quiet journey of self-discovery through books and the fascinating people she meets along the way.

The Daeo Bookstore is the oldest bookstore in Seoul. Located in the picturesque Seochon Village neighborhood, the store is only a few minutes' walk from Gyeongbokgung, the Palace of Shining Happiness. The bookstore also operates a small cafe. — The Daeo Bookstore is the oldest bookstore in Seoul. Located in the picturesque Seochon Village neighborhood, the store is only a few minutes’ walk from Gyeongbokgung, the Palace of Shining Happiness. The bookstore also operates a small cafe.

Greek Lessons, by Han Kang

This is the first book by Han Kang that I’ve read—though it’s neither her debut novel nor her first to be translated into English. Originally published in Korean in 2011 and translated into English in 2023, it’s a hauntingly poetic story set in Seoul.

It follows two characters: a young woman who has lost her voice, and her teacher, who is slowly losing his sight. The title refers to the point at which their lives intersect—the heroine is studying Ancient Greek, a language taught by the teacher.

Other notable works by Han Kang include Human Acts, The White Book, and The Vegetarian.

The Vegetarian, by Han Kang

This is the second book by Han Kang that I’ve read. It was originally published in Korean as three separate novelettes (2004 and 2005) before being compiled into a single novel in 2007. The English translation followed in 2015.

Set in contemporary Seoul, the novel tells the unsettling story of a young woman who decides to stop eating meat—and eventually all animal products—after having a disturbing dream. Her drastic transformation leads to her hospitalization, where she is later diagnosed with anorexia nervosa and schizophrenia.

The first section, The Vegetarian, is narrated by her husband and recounts the events leading up to her breakdown, while the subsequent parts, Mongolian Mark and Flaming Trees, are told in the third person and explore the aftermath from different perspectives.

A film adaptation, directed by Lim Woo-Seong, was released in 2009.

Feline, by Hui-ryeong BU

I read this book in French, as it has not yet been translated into English. Originally published in Korean in 2006, it was translated into French in 2009.

The story is narrated by a stray cat rescued by a teenager, who then embarks on a quest to find the animal a permanent home.

As an ailurophile myself, I thoroughly enjoyed following the two protagonists on their journey across South Korea.

Pachinko, by Min Jin Lee

Min Jin Lee is a Korean author who was born in Seoul and raised in New York. Pachinko is her second novel — and the most ambitious of the books discussed here. Divided into three parts, it was first published in English in 2017 and later adapted into a TV series released in 2022, which I have yet to watch.

An expansive intergenerational saga, Pachinko follows a Korean family who immigrates to Japan at the beginning of the 20th century. The narrative begins in the late 19th century and unfolds across decades, tracing the family’s struggles and resilience through discrimination, identity, and belonging.

In case you’re wondering about the title, pachinko is a mechanical game originating in Japan, often associated with gambling and somewhat similar to Western slot machines. Pachinko parlours are a common sight in Japan—and in the novel, one of the characters owns one.

Seoul’s Starfield Library has 13-meter-tall bookshelves and is home to more than 50,000 books.