:''See also

Culture of South Korea The contemporary culture of South Korea developed from the traditional culture of Korea which was prevalent in the early Korean nomadic tribes. By maintaining thousands of years of ancient Korean culture, with influence from ancient Chinese cult ...

Korean literature Korean literature is the body of literature produced by Koreans, mostly in the Korean language and sometimes in Classical Chinese. For much of Korea's 1,500 years of literary history, it was written in Hanja. It is commonly divided into classica ...

until 1945, and

North Korean literature Reading is a popular pastime in North Korea, where literacy and books enjoy a high cultural standing, elevated by the regime's efforts to disseminate propaganda as texts. Because of this, writers are held in high prestige. The partition of ...

'' South Korean literature is

literature Literature is any collection of Writing, written work, but it is also used more narrowly for writings specifically considered to be an art form, especially prose fiction, drama, and poetry. In recent centuries, the definition has expanded to ...

written or produced in

South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and sharing a Korean Demilitarized Zone, land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed ...

following the division of

Korea Korea ( ko, 한국, or , ) is a peninsular region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided at or near the 38th parallel, with North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) comprising its northern half and South Korea (Republic ...

into

North North is one of the four compass points or cardinal directions. It is the opposite of south and is perpendicular to east and west. ''North'' is a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating direction or geography. Etymology The word ''north ...

and South in 1945. South Korean literature is primarily written in

Korean Korean may refer to: People and culture * Koreans, ethnic group originating in the Korean Peninsula * Korean cuisine * Korean culture * Korean language **Korean alphabet, known as Hangul or Chosŏn'gŭl **Korean dialects and the Jeju language ** ...

, though

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ...

loanword A loanword (also loan word or loan-word) is a word at least partly assimilated from one language (the donor language) into another language. This is in contrast to cognates, which are words in two or more languages that are similar because ...

s are prevalent.

Literature by genre

Mainstream fiction

Also referred as 'pure literature' in South Korea. Most authors translated by the

Korea Literature Translation Institute The Literature Translation Institute of Korea ( ko, 한국문학번역원, LTI Korea, formerly known as Korean Literature Translation Fund) was founded in 1996 by the Government of South Korea with the aim of promoting Korean literature and cultu ...

for translation falls into this category. The terminology is often criticized, and is a constant theme of discussion in the literature of South Korea. * Ahn Soo-kil (1911-1977)(안수길) * Eun Hee-kyung (1959~)(은희경) * Seong Seok-jae (1961~)(성석제) * Park Mingyu (1968~)(박민규) *

Choi Il-nam Choi Il-Nam (; born December 29, 1932) is a South Korean writer. Life Born in Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do on December 29, 1932, Choi Il-Nam graduated from Seoul National University in 1957 with a degree in Korean Language and Literature. He received ...

(1932~)(최일남) * Kim Jae-young (1966~)(김재영) *

Bang Young-ung Bang Young-ung (20 July 1942 – 31 August 2022) was a South Korean novelist whose works focus on affectionately portraying the lives of ordinary people in contemporary South Korea. Life Bang Yeong-ung was born on 20 July 1942 in Yesan, Chungc ...

(1942~)(방영웅) *

Bok Geo-il Bok Geo-il (born March 20, 1946) is a South Korean novelist, poet, literary critic and social commentator. Early life and education Bok was born in Asan, Chungcheongnam-do, Southern Korea. Bok Geo-il graduated from the Business School of the S ...

(1946~)(복거일) *

Cho Se-hui Cho Se-hui (20 August 1942 – 25 December 2022) was a South Korean author. Early life Cho Sehui was born in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi-do on 20 August 1942. Cho attended Seorabeol Art College and Kyunghee University in Seoul. Cho was a member of the ...

(1942~)(조세희) *

Park Beom-shin Park Bum Shin ( 박범신; born August 24, 1946) is a South Korean writer. Life Park Bum Shin was born in Nonsan, Chungcheongnam-do. He graduated from Jeonju National University of Education, Wonkwang University and Korea University. While w ...

(1946~)(박범신) * Kim So-jin (1963-1997)(김소진) *

Han Moo-sook Han Moo-sook (1918-1993) () was a South Korean writer. Her name may also be rendered in English as "Han Musuk", "Han Moo-suk", "Han Musook", "Mu-suk Han" or "Han Mu-suk". Life Han Moo-sook was born October 25, 1918 in Seoul and graduated from ...

(1918-1993)(한무숙) *

Hwang Sok-yong Hwang Sok-yong (born January 4, 1943) is a South Korean novelist. Life Hwang was born in Hsinking (today Changchun), Manchukuo, during the period of Japanese rule. His family returned to Korea after liberation in 1945. He later obtained a ...

(1943~)(황석영) *

Ahn Junghyo Ahn Junghyo (This is the author's preferred Romanization per LTI Korea) is a South Korean novelist and literary translator."안정효" biographical PDF available at LTI Korea Library or online at: http://klti.or.kr/ke_04_03_011.do# Life He wa ...

(1941~)(안정효) *

Kim Hoon Kim Hoon is a South Korean novelist, journalist and critic. Life Kim was born on May 5, 1948, in Seoul, Korea. After graduating from Whimoon High School, Kim Hoon entered Korea University in 1966. He joined Hankook Ilbo as a journalist in 197 ...

(1948~)(김훈) *

Kim Yeon-su Kim Yeonsu (The romanization preferred by the author according to LTI Korea) (; born 1970) is a South Korean writer. Life Kim Yeonsu was born in Kimcheon, Kyeongsangbuk-do in 1970. He graduated with a degree in English literature from Sungkyu ...

(1970~)(김연수) *

Kim Young-ha Young-ha Kim(c. November 11, 1968) is a modern South Korean writer. Life Kim was born in Hwacheon on November 11, 1968. He moved from place to place as a child, since his father was in the military. As a child, he suffered from gas poisoning f ...

(1968~)(김영하) *

Yang Gui-ja Yang Gwija (born 1955) () is a South Korean writer. Life Yang Gwija was born July 1, 1955, in Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do and graduated from Wonkwang University in 1978 with a degree in Korean Literature. She later moved to Seoul after her marriage i ...

(1955~)(양귀자) *

Kim Won-il Kim Won-il (born 1942) is a South Korean writer. Life Kim Won-il was born on March 15, 1942 in Gimhae, Gyeongsangnam-do. Kim was only a child when his father, a communist activist, defected to the North during the Korean War. The father left ...

(1942~)(김원일) *

Gong Seon-ok Gong Seon-ok (born 1963) is a modern South Korean writer. Life Gong was born in Gokseong County, South Jeolla Province, South Korea. Her father, who abandoned the family early on, led a wandering existence in order to evade creditors, and her m ...

(1963-)(공선옥) * Son Chang-seop (1922-2010)(손창섭) * Kim Seung-ok (1941~)(김승옥) * Chang Yong-hak (1921-1999)(장영학) * Kim Joo-young (1939~)(김주영) * Lee Cheong-jun (1939-2008)(이청준) *

Lee Dong-ha Lee Dong-Ha (born December 1, 1942) is a South Korean novelist. Life Lee Dong-Ha was born in Osaka, JapanBiography from ''Shrapnel and other Stories'' and moved to Korea with his family after Korea's liberation from the Japanese. There, he gre ...

(1942~)(이동하) *

Lee Soon-won Yi Sunwon (; born 1957) is a modern South Korean writer who writes about diverse topics. Life Yi Sunwon was born in Gangneung on the coast of the Sea of Japan in 1957. While in high school, Yi decided to become a farmer. In a dramatic display ...

(1957~)(이순원) *

Park Wan-suh Park Wan-suh (October 20, 1931January 22, 2011) was a South Korean writer. Life Park Wan-suh (also Park Wan-seo, Park Wan-so, Park Wansuh, Park Kee-pah, Pak Wan-so, Pak Wanso) was born in 1931 in Gaepung-gun in what is now Hwanghaebuk-do in N ...

(1931-2011)(박원서) * Yi Munyol (1948~)(이문열) * Yoo Jae-yong (1936~)(유재영) * Yu Heaon-jong (1939~)(유현종) * Yun Heung-gil (1942~)(윤흥길) * Yun Hu-myong (1946~)(윤후명) * Yun Young-su (1952~)(윤영수) * Shin Kyung-sook (1963~)(신경숙) *

Oh Jung-hee O Jeonghui (born November 9, 1947) () is a South Korean writer. Life O Jeonghui was born in Seoul, South Korea on November 9, 1947. She attended the Sorabol Art College from which she received her B.A. in creative writing in 1968. O Jeonghu ...

(1947~)(오정희) * Gu Byeong-mo (1976~)(구병모) :Korean-American writers writing in Korean, e.g. Kim Yong-ik

Popular fiction

This term, the popular fiction, is defined as the mass market-targeted works, or as an opposite of the ''pure'' ''literature''. This terminology comes from the equivalent Japanese word. But since early 2000, the distinction between mainstream and pop became faint, and some mainstream authors like Gu Byeong-mo or Chung Serang are well-received in both genre, and there is a clear tendency of authors refuse to define themselves as the 'pure literature' author.

Historical fiction

Historical fiction, or alternative history fiction, is one of the largest selling genre in South Korea. For a more serious works, authors like

Jo Jung-rae Jo Jeong-rae () is a novelist from South Korea, best known as the author of the best-selling novels ''Taebaek Mountain Range'', ''Arirang'', and ''Han River"Jo Jung-Rae" biographical PDF available at LTI Korea Library or online at: http://klti ...

and

falls into this category. For lighter works, Kim Jin-myung, the author of The Rose of Sharon Blooms Again, is one of the most best selling writers. The historical fiction of South Korea often covers the

Chosun Dynasty Joseon (; ; Middle Korean: 됴ᇢ〯션〮 Dyǒw syéon or 됴ᇢ〯션〯 Dyǒw syěon), officially the Great Joseon (; ), was the last dynastic kingdom of Korea, lasting just over 500 years. It was founded by Taejo of Joseon, Yi Seong-gye in ...

and the colonization era.

Fantasy

* Lee Yeongdo (b. 1972): '' Dragon Raja'' * Jeon Min-hee: '' Children of the rune'' * Lee Woo-hyouk: ''The Soul Guardians'' (퇴마록, 退魔錄) *Kim Sang-hyun: Tamguroo (탐그루) *Kim Chulgon: The Dragon Lady (드래곤 레이디) *Hong Jeonghoon : The Rogue (더 로그) *Ha Jieun: ''Tower of Ice Tree'' (얼음나무 숲) *Bang Jina *Min Soyeong: ''The Tower of Storm'' (폭풍의 탑)

Science fiction

Djuna Djuna is a South Korean science fiction writer and film critic. Djuna is managed by Greenbook Agency. Life The identity of Djuna is unknown, and Djuna prefers the personal pronoun "they." They publish all their works under the name Djuna, and ...

* Bae Myung Hoon * Kim Ewhan * Kim Bo-young * Jeong Soyeon

Essayists

Non-fiction essayists include Chang Young-hee.

Poetry

List of Korean-language poets This is a list of Korean-language poets. Twentieth-century poets Alphabetical list B * Baek Seok (1912-1996) * Bok Koh-il (born 1946) C * Chae Ho-ki (born 1957) * Cheon Sang-byeong (1930-1993) * Cheon Yang-hee (born 1942) * Cheong Chi-yong ...

Notable modern poets include Moon Deok-soo (문덕수, 文德守, b.1928), Choi Nam-son (1890–1957) and Kim Sowol,2004 The Columbia Anthology of Modern Korean Poetry (한국현대시선집) David R.McCann Columbia University Press Ki Hyung-do,

Chon Sang-pyong Cheon Sang-byeong (천상병) (January 29, 1930 – April 28, 1993) was a South Korean writer who overcame torture, impotence and alcoholism. Life Cheon Sang-byeong was born in Japan on January 29, 1930. He immigrated to Masan, Korea in 19 ...

South Korean literary awards

Daesan Literary Awards The Daesan Literary Awards () are one of the most prestigious literary awards in South Korea. Prizes are awarded annually to selected works of poetry, fiction, drama, literary criticism, and translation. As of 2016, each prize includes a monetary ...

Dong-in Literary Award The Dong-in Literary Award ( ko, 동인문학상) is a South Korean literary award named after novelist Kim Dong-in, established in order to praise the literary achievement of The Republic of Korea. In commemoration of the Korean modern literatur ...

Hankook Ilbo Literary Award The Hankook Ilbo Literary Award (한국일보문학상) is a South Korean literary award. It is one of South Korea's most prestigious literary awards, established in 1968 by Hankook Ilbo ''Hankook Ilbo'' () is a Korean-language daily newspape ...

* Hyundae Munhak Awards *

Jeong Jiyong Literature Prize Jeong Jiyong Literature Prize (Hangul: 정지용문학상) is a literary award established in 1989 for poet and poetry Poetry (derived from the Greek '' poiesis'', "making"), also called verse, is a form of literature that uses aesthetic ...

* Manhae Prize for Literature *

Midang Literary Award Midang Literary Award (hangul: 미당문학상) is established in June 2001 by the JoongAng Ilbo to honor the literary achievements of Seo Jeong-ju Seo Jeong-ju (May 18, 1915 – December 24, 2000) was a Korean poet and university profess ...

* Park Kyong-ni Prize *

Sowol Poetry Prize The Sowol Poetry Prize () is one of the most prestigious literary awards in South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and sharing a lan ...

* Society of Korean Poets Award *

Yi Sang Literary Award The Yi Sang Literary Award (이상문학상) is a South Korean literary award. It is one of South Korea's most prestigious literary awards, named after Yi Sang, an innovative writer in modern Korean literature. The Yi Sang Literary Award was estab ...

* Yook Woo Dang Literary Award

References

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