In South Korea, education and financial success is placed at an extremely high standard for its citizens. After World War II, the nation worked to rebuild itself by launching its young people to the forefront of competition against others around the world. In the article “South Korea’s Book Market Reflects a Culture in Transition,” the author says, “From the time children can speak, many are raised with a sampling foundation of English books and translated works of foreign innovators ranging from Albert Einstein to Bill Gates and are taught to believe being the best only means they need to be better” (Moon 135). The Korean publishing industry mirrors the efforts of the nation to excel in education, research, and business. After the Korean War, the Korean government worked to eliminate widespread illiteracy and attending secondary schools or higher education meant a better life. As a result, Moon says, “Korean parents invest heavily and aggressively in their children’s education” (138). Because of this intensity placed on children’s education, children’s books are the top seller in Korea. This makes the translation industry huge and the success of books such as the Harry Potter series skyrocket for readers between the ages of 11 and 16 years (141).
While the market segment for children and younger adolescent’s books grew, there was not much of a market for teenage readers. This is due to the competitive university-entrance exams that consumed much of their time, leaving little time for leisurely reading. As a result, the nonfiction educational market for books continued to remain steady. Parents even favored titles that helped their children become smarter. However, the interest of young adult readers has shifted to stories that are real-life and coming-of-age centered. Moon says, “Books offer comfort, guidance, and sometimes escape from life’s harsh realities.”
While Korean literature is widely unknown in the United States, in 2014, the London Book Fair spotlighted the Korean literature market as a result of Korea’s status as one of the top ten publishing markets in the world. In Korea, many books that are published for young adults reflect the sad reality of growing up and living among the high pressures of their parents. However, best-selling author Gu Byeong-mo diverges from this theme to write a Korean fantasy fiction novel. The novel, Wizard Bakery, is about a 16-year old boy that runs away from home and explores a bakery that sells items baked by a wizard for medicinal purposes. She wrote this book to be lighthearted and spark curiosity among adolescent minds, while also challenging the perception of young adult literature in Korea. In fact, Wizard Bakery, became extremely popular among Mexican adolescents after being translated to La Panadería Encantada. The Korean government has further provided funding for Korean publishers to support translations of chosen literary works in order to reach the global market.
Works Cited
Information Service. “KOREA.NET.” Korean Novel Wins Mexican Teen Hearts : Korea.net : The Official Website of the Republic of Korea, www.korea.net/NewsFocus/Culture/view?articleId=134788.
“Korea Market Focus.” Korea Market Focus – The London Book Fair, 21 May 2013, www.londonbookfair.co.uk/ARCHIVE/LBF-2013/Focus-On/Korea-Market-Focus/.
Koreatimes. “’Wizard’s Bakery’ Redefines Young Adult Literature.” Koreatimes, 8 Apr. 2016, www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2016/04/665_202193.html.
Moon, Karla. “South Korea’s Book Market Reflects a Culture in Transition.” Publishing Research Quarterly, vol. 30, no. 1, 2014, pp. 135–151., doi:10.1007/s12109-014-9349-4.