VOL.94/2026.05

 

2020-2022 Bestsellers: Korean Fiction

 

2023.10.04

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bestsellers in Korean Fiction from 2020 to 2022
Let’s take a look at which books were loved by readers, as well as those that were noteworthy in each year!

 

2020

 

#1 - Dallergut Dream Department Store (Written by Lee Mi-Ye, published by Sam & Parkers)
A secret and mysterious dream department store that can only be entered in dreams! A fantasy novel with heartwarming episodes that take place in the dream department store.

 

#2 - Almond (Written by Sohn Won-Pyung, Published by Dazzling (publisher of the revised edition))
A young adult novel about the growth of Yoon-Jae, a “boy who cannot feel emotions,” through the love of his family and friendship with his friends.

 

* K-Book Trends Vol. 22 ? Go to the interview with writer Sohn Won-Pyung

 

#3 - If We Cannot Move at the Speed of Light (Written by Kim Cho-Yeop, published by East-Asia Publishing)
A first novel about the boundaries between the mainstream and the non-mainstream by Kim Cho-Yeop, who portrays an imaginary world that is nowhere, but seems to be somewhere.

 

* K-Book Trends Vol. 19 ? Go to the interview with writer Kim Cho-Yeop

 

2021

 

#2 - Dallergut Dream Department Store 2 (Written by Lee Mi-Ye, published by Sam & Parkers)
The second chapter of Dallergut Dream Department Store that captivated readers! A healing adventurous fantasy novel about bringing back the regulars.

 

#3 - Perfect Happiness (Written by Jeong You-Jeong, published by EunHaeng NaMu Publishing)
A K-thriller that sends chills down readers’ spines and asks profound literary questions about society with its overwhelming narrative.

 

* K-Book Trends Vol. 5 ? Go to the interview with writer Jeong You-Jeong

 

#5 - Uncanny Convenience Store (Written by Kim Ho-Yeon, published Namu Bench)
A representative K-Healing novel that mesmerized the world! The story of an extraordinary convenience store filled with comfort and happiness delivered by a mysterious staff member at the convenience store.

 

* K-Book Trends Vol. 44 ? Go to the interview with writer Kim Ho-Yeon

 

2022

 

#2 - Harbin (Written by Kim Hoon, published by Munhakdongne)
A story about the short, yet impactful life of Ahn Jung-Geun, a Korean hero during the Japanese occupation, and the intricate conflicts of being a human being.

 

#3 - Farewell (Written by Kim Young-Ha, published by Bokbok Seoga)
A full-length novel by one of Korea’s leading novelists, Kim Young-Ha. With a setting in the not-too-distant future, it questions the boundaries between technology and humans.

 

#4 - My Father’s Liberation (Written by Jeong Jia, published by Changbi Publishers)
A full-length novel by “realist” Jeong Jia about hilarious yet profound episodes with her late socialist father.

 

* K-Book Trends Vol. 54 ? Go to the interview with writer Jeong Jia

 

Korean novels are going global!
We ask for your continued interest in the many more works to come in the future!

 

* The data above is a summary of the best-selling Korean fiction titles from 2020 to 2022 from the four largest bookstores in Korea: Kyobo Book Centre, Aladdin, YES 24, and Interpark.

 

 

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