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Haemin Sunim's The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down

#1 Bestseller on Amazon UK, #3 non-fiction seller in the Netherlands

 

2017.9.11

 

The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down

 

 

Haemin Sunim's The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down recently stayed at #1 on Amazon UK's bestseller list for three weeks, surprising many as it is rare for a South Korean collection of essays to gain so much popularity overseas. Even the editor who was in charge of putting the UK version of this book together had been taken by surprise at the book's success. In the United States, the book sold over 30,000 copies in two weeks, as readers sought a moment of rest in their busy everyday lives.
It is not an easy feat for a South Korean book to be published abroad, moreover a collection of essays. Penguin Books and Random House, both major publishers in the United States and the United Kingdom respectively, approached Suo Books which owns the publishing right in South Korea to this book to export it overseas. Haemin Sunim then spent two years in translating this book with Ji-young Kim who translated Please Look After Mom by Kyung-sook Shin. The author, previously a professor at a U.S. university, decided to personally become involved in the translating process to bridge the cultural gap between South Korea and the United States.
The success his book saw was likely in part due to the time that was spent in creating the translation. We were able to conduct a written interview with Haemin Sunim who currently spends his time giving lectures and doing interviews abroad after the publication of his book. The following is the Q&A.

 

 

KPIPA

You're currently the principal of Maum School, a writer and a Buddhist priest. We are curious to know what prefix you prefer in front of your name as you play so many responsibilities. Please tell us why as well.

 

Haemin

I am a monk, so I prefer to be called one above all other titles. I identify as a monk while writing, conducting programs at our school, while giving lectures to the public. While I was teaching at a U.S. university for seven years, I always thought of myself as a monk teaching, rather than the other way around.

  

KPIPA

Writing can be a way to heal the heart. We were wondering what prompted you to first write The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down.

 

Haemin

I had many epiphanies whenever my life and my heart met. For instance, when I felt I was too busy, I tried to observe whether the world was truly busy or it was just my heart. I came to realize the world never complains it is busy and it was only because of my heart that I felt the world looked immensely busy.
Later I told my stories on social networking services, wishing they could be of some help to other people and that was later tied together in this book.

    

 

KPIPA

The response to that book abroad has been quite positive. You've probably met many people while visiting other countries. How did it feel to communicate with readers overseas who read your book?

 

Haemin

I was so thankful and fascinated at the same time. Recently I received feedback from readers in the United Kingdom, the United States and Spain that they had enjoyed my book. I also heard my book was the No. 3 nonfiction bestseller in the Netherlands and that it had gone to No. 1 on the U.K. Amazon bestseller list. There were many difficulties translating the book into English, but as much as it was grueling, I was thrilled to be able to bring courage and peace to people and inspire them.
From mid-September I will tour ten cities in Germany and Austria and meet readers at the behest of my German publisher. I am just thankful for everything.

    

KPIPA

We heard you were able to export the book because a U.S. publisher contacted you first. It's our hope that this will happen again for other books. Could you tell us how you felt when that happened?

 

Haemin

We were contacted by two publishers at nearly the same time and around that time I was actually on my way to New York, so I was able to visit them and talk to the people there.
They told me novels like Please Look After Mom and children's books are often translated but nonfiction books like mine are rarely done. In the case of the United States, I was touched at how much effort they put into a book before it is published. I was also so thankful my book was able to be sold in places in Europe, Central America, Israel, Turkey and Russia with the help of Penguin Books and Random House. These are locations that would have been hard to crack with just South Korean agencies.

 

KPIPA

We saw a story on the Guardian about your book. What you are trying to pursue through the books is having a positive effect on readers. What kind of message do you want to convey in future books to come?

 

 

Haemin

My next book, the title of which would roughly translate into Love for Things Imperfect, is already slated to be sold in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and the Netherlands. We haven't even finished translating it yet. I want to keep writing good books and meet readers around the world.

 

KPIPA

Do you have any last words for publishers and readers in Korea and abroad?

 

 

Haemin

Books cannot be made and sold by the author alone. You need editors, book designers, marketers, publicists, agencies, wholesalers, bookstores and all sorts of other people. I am always grateful as an author to all those working in the publishing industry and although the industry is going through rough times, I hope the people there will keep making books with good content.

 

 

 

* Interview with Daniel Crewe (UK Editor of Haemin Sunim's)

   About The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down  

 

ⓒ www.penguinrandomhouse.co.uk 

 

 

1. Could you provide a short introduction on what you do?

 

I publish non-fiction at Viking, Portfolio and Penguin Life, imprints at Penguin Random House.

 

 

2. Out of all Korean books, why did you decide to publish Haemin Sunim's book?

 

I saw that it had been a huge bestseller in Korea and was interested to know what it was. Then when I received the manuscript and saw the original book, I loved the way itgave such down-to-earth advice from someone with such great experience of the subject – and the fact that its illustrations make it so beautiful and so calming. It’s a great title too!

 

 

3. Why do you think Haemin Sunmin's book has gained such popularity in the UK?

 

The area of personal development is expanding at the moment – various publishers have set up new imprints focusing here. This particular book benefited from very good publicity which included TV and radio, and Haemin Sunim conveys his wisdom very warmly and naturally. The format and price (it’s not expensive) meant that it has sold across a wide variety of retailers too.

 

 

4. Haemin Sunim visited the UK in the first half of 2017 and met with readers. What was their reaction?

 

He was a hit! He is a natural for the media, and in particular people seemed interested to know about a Korean monk – and such a young one -- with a social media following, too.

 

 

5. Do you have any plans to publish more Korean books in the future? If so, please tell us about them.

 

We are publishing the next book by Haemin Sunim, on imperfection. I hopeI’ll publish more in this area by other Korean authors too!

 

 


Photographs provided by Suo Books

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