Looking for books set in South Korea? Press play above to hear us recommend five great ones: a quiet novella set in a popular beach town, a colorful comic book with recipes, a modern story of four friends obsessed with beauty in Seoul, a nonfiction book that illuminates life in a place most of us will never visit, and a charming retelling of Pride and Prejudice set during the 18th-century Joseon dynasty.
South Korea sits at the easternmost edge of Asia and shares the Korean Peninsula with its stern northern neighbor. South Korea’s current geography was created by outsiders: The US and Soviet Union drew its borders after WWII. Although its 20th-century history is pretty grim, the modern country — dynamic, resilient, traditional, and fashionable — is not.
In the capital city of Seoul, soaring skyscrapers and colorful neon glitter are juxtaposed with traditional swooping tile roofs. Cone-shaped mountains surround the city, framed by pink cherry blossoms in the spring and maple leaves turned gold, red, and orange in the fall.
A short list of things for which we can thank Korea: Kimchi and bibimbap. The MP3 player and those sweet instant coffee sticks with built-in sugar and creamer. K-Dramas (Hello, Attorney Woo!) and K-Pop. (Who doesn’t love a little ‘Dynamite’?!)
In this episode, we learn about the discovery of a long-lost royal tomb and the new apps known as ‘dopamine sites.’ Because it’s nearly impossible to talk about South Korea without contrasting it with its northern neighbor, we take a virtual trip to the DMZ and share tips for living like a monk (for a day). Then we recommend five books we love that took us to South Korea on the page:
Winter in Sokcho by Elisa Shua Dusapin, translated by Aneesa Abbas Higgins — a quiet novella set in a beachside resort town in the depth of winter; punches above its weight-class with feelings
Cook Korean! by Robin Ha — a colorful exploration of Korean cuisine told through a charming, impactful comic book format
If I Had Your Face by Frances Cha — the story of four friends in the Gangnam district of Seoul, navigating ambition, heartbreak, and unattainable beauty standards
Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea by Barbara Demick — an illuminating look at contrasting lives in North and South Korea
Behind Five Willows by June Hur — a retelling of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice grounded in the history of Korea’s 18th-century Joseon dynasty
If South Korea has you dreaming of more book set in Asia, don’t miss our podcast episode about Japan; we’ve also got a recipe for gyoza meatballs and 8 Books That Will Transport You Directly To Japan. Continue your Asian adventures with our episodes about Mongolia, Thailand, and Vietnam — plus a recipe for pho inspired by the lovely novel The Beauty of Humanity Movement by Camilla Gibb.
Read the full transcript of South Korea: Kimchi, K-Pop, and All-Night Karaoke.
The Old Fire: A Novel by Elisa Shua Dusapin, translated by Aneesa Abbas Higgins
Dirt Candy: A Cookbook by Amanda Cohen, Ryan Dunlavey, Grady Hendrix
Relish: My Life in the Kitchen by Lucy Knisley
Almost American Girl: A Graphic Memoir by Robin Ha
The Fox Maidens: A Graphic Novel by Robin Ha
The Red Palace by June Hur
Perhaps you’d like to listen to some music while you dig into these links.
History
The British Museum: Introduction to Korea
The Myth of Dangun: Heavenly Descent, Ungnyeo’s Ordeal, and the Foundation of Gojoseon
Outdoorsy Fun
How to Hike Inwangsan: Best Route, Fortress Wall Trail & Sunset Views in Seoul
Obviously we are very interested in the Street Toast:
Kimchi Museum
Atlas Obscura: Museum Kimchikan — tracking the 1,500-year history of Korea’s star cabbage
Online Exhibit: Essential Guide to Kimjang
Online Exhibit: Kimchi History
DMZ
Jeonju
Jeju Island
Temple Stay
Statement 1: There’s a Korean app. The name translates to Groom. People use it to find local weddings to crash.
Dopamine Sites — the rise of fake online shopping platforms that let you pretend to buy things
South Korea’s ‘Dopamine Sites’ Let You Shop, Order Food, and Spend Nothing
These Fake Online Stores Are Letting People Shop Without Spending Money
Korean ‘Dopamine Sites’ Offer Simulated Shopping and Smoke Breaks
Statement 2: In the 70s, a bunch of guys digging a drainage ditch found a royal tomb that had been sealed for 1500 years.
Statement 3: The world’s oldest printed book is Korean.
Winter in Sokcho by Elisa Shua Dusapin, Aneesa Abbas Higgins (translator)
Cook Korean! by Robin Ha
If I Had Your Face by Frances Chah
Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea by Barbara Demick
The Documentary Podcast: Barbara Demick: True stories from North Korea
Behind Five Willows by June Hur
This is a very good first-person account: Taking the ferry from South Korea (Busan) to Japan (Fukuoka)
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