VOL.95/2026.06

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Wandering through Pages,
Reading through Places

 

 

2026.06

 

 

 

In our latest survey, we asked readers to select the destination featured in Korean literature that they most desired to visit. The results unveiled a rich tapestry of literary landscapes, ranging from the fresh, contemporary sensibilities of modern fiction to the profound resonance of Korea’s modern and contemporary history. While author Chung Serang’s Jeju Island secured an overwhelming first place with 50.4% of the votes, every single location featured in this survey holds its own unique literary value. Regardless of their ranking, here are the four literary destinations that captured the hearts of our readers.

 

 

 

 

1st Place: Jeju Island – Chung Serang (50.4%)

 

 

Jeju Island, chosen by more than half of the respondents, serves as a prime example of how contemporary Korean literature reinterprets a traditional space. In Chung Serang’s works, such as School Nurse Ahn Eun-young and From Sisun Onward, Jeju is far more than a mere tourist destination; it is a distinctive literary world where the mundane and the fantastical coexist. Her portrayal of Jeju, where the mythologies of a volcanic island intersect with the anxieties of modern life, offers international readers a compelling glimpse into the new possibilities of Korean literature.

 

 

 

 

2nd Place: Seochon, Seoul – Yun Dong-ju (19.7%)

 

 

Seochon, which secured second place with 19.7% of the votes, is a place where the enduring traces of Yun Dong-ju, one of the most beloved poets in Korean literary history, still linger. In the 1940s, while attending Yeonhi Technical College (now Yonsei University), Yun resided in a small boarding house in Seochon, where he composed his finest masterpieces, including Counting the Stars at Night and Prologue. His poems, which profoundly capture the agony and conscience of an intellectual during the Japanese colonial period, continue to resonate deeply with people today. Walking through the Seochon alleys and visiting the Yun Dong-ju Literature House allows visitors to fully immerse themselves in his timeless poetic spirit that transcends generations.

 

 

 

 

3rd Place: Gwangju – Han Kang (15.4%)

 

 

Gwangju, which rose to third place with 15.4% of the votes, serves as a profound literary space that bears witness to the most painful moment in modern Korean history through Han Kang’s Human Acts. Documenting the horrors of the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement in 1980, this work records a historical tragedy with deep empathy and restrained language. Visiting the May 18th National Cemetery and the former Jeonnam Provincial Office allows visitors to gain a deeper understanding, through the power of literature, of the courage and sacrifices of those who fought for democracy. Han Kang’s work beautifully demonstrates how literature can act both as a witness to history and as a force for healing.

 

 

 

 

4th Place: Chuncheon – Kim Yu-jeong (14.5%)

 

 

Chuncheon, which garnered 14.5% of the votes, is the literary home of Kim Yu-jeong, a master of the Korean short story. His renowned works, including Spring, Spring and The Camellia Blossoms, portray the rural life of Gangwon Province in the 1930s with rich humor and a warm, compassionate perspective. Visiting Kim Yu-jeong Station and the Kim Yu-jeong Literary Village allows visitors to experience his literary world, which is filled with a simple yet profound humanity, within spaces that faithfully recreate the countryside landscapes of that bygone era.

 

This survey underscores that readers wish to move beyond simply reading Korean literature, deeply desiring to personally experience the very spaces that served as the backdrops for these stories. From Chung Serang’s fantastical Jeju to Kim Yu-jeong’s pastoral Chuncheon, each location functions as a literary bridge connecting the past with the present, and tradition with modernity.

 

At a time when Korean literature is capturing global attention, these literary destinations have evolved beyond mere tourist attractions to become vital gateways for a deeper understanding of Korean culture. In the future, even more readers will surely step beyond the pages of their books to visit these actual locations, encountering the extraordinary moments where literature and reality meet.

 

 

 

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Editor. Hannah Lee (The Contents Factory Co., Ltd. CEO)

Designing “More” Innovative Communication and Experiences Through Content