Interest in Korean books spiked upon the announcement that South Korean author Han Kang had won the Nobel Prize in Literature. 

With a rich history and a vivacious contemporary culture, South Korean books navigate the line between tradition and modernity to create striking works of literature that convey the South Korean experience with universally enjoyable prose.

If you’re eager to dip your toes into Korean literature, the following are considered some of the best Korean books to date, making them excellent starting points to explore the country’s magnificent literary body.