The announcement that South Korean writer Han Kang was awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature was nothing short of historic. Han Kang not only became the first Asian woman to win the award; it is also the first such distinction for a Korean writer.

For avid readers of Korean literature, Han Kang’s win cemented its increasing importance and popularity on the global stage. The Korea Times also reported that her winning the Nobel Prize has resulted in a publishing boom in South Korea’s book industry, with more than one million copies of her books sold within six days.

Filipinos who have long read Korean books were just as excited by the surge in popularity of Korean literature. It validated what they have known all along: that Korean literature is unique, diverse, and connects with readers on an emotional level.

Ingrid Mae de Jesus, a 27-year-old philosophy instructor at the University of the Philippines, has read over 24 translated Korean books, and counting. A fan of K-drama and K-pop, she remembers seeing a copy of the novel “My Name is Kim Sam-soon” in a local bookstore. 

“I started reading more years later when I took Korean language as an elective in college,” Ingrid said. “I read the translated works of my teachers, Ma. Kristina Carla Rico and Dr. Kyungmin Bae, and started seeking out different authors and genres.”

Among the books she has read are authored by Han Kang––“There Are No Bad People in the World” and “I Almost Worked Too Hard.”

Grace, a lawyer and certified public accountant, took to reading Korean literature because of her love for the K-pop group BTS. 

“When I saw [that people] were reading and recommending books, my friends and I jumped on the bandwagon,” said Grace, 46. “When BTS released their book in various languages, I made sure I got copies in all the languages I could find. I’m especially eager to read them in Hangeul as I want to experience their words in the original language.”

Universal themes 

Korean literature explores universal themes that resonate across time, cultures, and the very essence of human existence. According to Ingrid, Korean literature offers a wide range of topics that complements her mood or mindset. 

“I can reach for Korean books on mindfulness and healing whenever I want to slow down and unwind,” she said. “The rest of my collection include the weird, surreal, and absurd, and I am pleased that Korean literature offers diverse depictions of love: filial, platonic, intellectual, societal, universal, and even nonconformist.”

Joyce, a 40-something lawyer-banker, said Korean literature appealed to her because of the locations and depictions of daily Korean life: “I’ve been to these places and can clearly imagine it as described in the books. I also find Korean literature more poetic compared to K-drama.”

The Korean War appears to be a favorite subject in the books she has read, Joyce observed. “Compared to the Philippines where war references can only be read in nonfiction/history books, Korean literature is teeming with mentions of the Korean War, which shaped and impacted the people and their society,” she said.

Joyce said that being a regular traveller to South Korea has provided her glimpses of the local life, and that reading Korean literature has deepened her appreciation for the culture. “The books provide the context I needed to understand their way of life,” she remarked.

Grace, on the other hand, said reading Korean literature has led to her understanding of the similarities of and differences between Korean and Philippine cultures.

“I feel that Korea is like the Philippines…Their traditions, family dynamics, societal expectations are similarly rich as ours,” she said. “I’ve developed a deeper appreciation for their values, particularly their emphasis on respect, self-improvement and resilience, which I can directly compare to our own experiences in the Philippines.”

Firmer foothold

Korean literature has gained a firmer foothold in the Philippines with more titles becoming easily available. One can purchase Korean books from local and online bookstores, and through Amazon.

Meanwhile, Apop Books, one of the leading publishing imprints in the country that carry Korean literature to English-speaking readers, has pushed its primary focus of translating and publishing Korean bestsellers in the self-help and personal development genres.

Its management saw the opportunity to introduce these genres during the pandemic, when many Filipinos struggled with issues concerning mental health, personal growth, and career uncertainties. 

“The themes in Korean self-help books—self-acceptance, resilience, and emotional well-being—resonated deeply,” Apop Books said. “By making these works accessible in English, we hoped to provide guidance and comfort to Filipino readers through perspectives shared by Koreans despite the differences in our cultures and experiences.”

Its most popular Korean-translated book to date is “I Decided to Live as Me” by Soo Hyun Kim, which has sold over one million copies globally.

And there are new titles in the pipeline. “We are continuously expanding our collection and are open to exploring new genres beyond self-help,” Apop Books said. “Our goal is to offer a wider range of Korean literature that will appeal to both existing fans and new readers alike.”

Beyond books, the company carries high-quality stationery from popular Korean brands, which are now available at National Bookstore. It is also about to release its first original title, “Annyeong Korean: Reading & Writing Hangeul,” a beginner’s guide to help language learners master the Korean alphabet.

The growing accessibility of Korean literature in the Philippines signifies that it is more than just a passing trend. It represents a cultural bridge that connects Filipinos with Korean storytelling and with diverse but similar human experiences.