The South Korean authors rising above a tide of hate to become bestsellers
Summary
In South Korea, female writers are gaining popularity despite facing strong criticism, especially from some men opposing feminism. This year, women won all categories of the country’s top literary prize, and new community spaces help women share their stories and grow as writers.Key Facts
- Seen Aromi’s memoir about enjoying single life became a bestseller in early 2024 in South Korea.
- Many men criticized her online, calling her selfish and accusing her of betraying the country.
- Feminism is a very controversial topic in South Korea, leading to online attacks and social pushback.
- Women won all six categories of the Yi Sang literary awards in 2024 for the first time.
- Writing groups and reading rooms called guelbang provide support for women writers to develop their skills and community.
- The MeToo movement from 2016 encouraged more women in South Korea to speak up and share their experiences.
- Sales of translated Korean books have more than doubled in 2024 compared to last year.
- Seen Aromi’s success led to an international translation deal with Penguin publishing.
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