Shin Kyung-sook, the future of Korean literature

There is a novelist in Korea who has commanded the international spotlight by selling publishing rights to her book in 31 countries in just one year. Fans jam into bookstores to get her autograph wherever she goes.

[Interview : Kim Jeong-oh, Visitor] "Shin Kyung-sook is like a candle. She communicates through warm emotion".

[Interview : Kang Seul-gi, Visitor] "Shin Kyung-sook is like a comma, a pause in life. Her words reach to your soul".

[SOV]
[Interview : ] "Good luck, Shin Kyung-sook!"

[SOV]
[Interview : ] "Shin Kyung-sook, I love you".

[ENG]
[Interview : Sherry Song / Visitor
]

[ENG]
[Interview : Jaea Daea, Visitor]

It's novelist Shin Kyung-sook, author of "Please Look After Mom".

This book became the single Korean book to have sold the most publication rights, and the first to be sold abroad purely to satisfy market demand.

Previous Korean books that had forayed into the global market had not been able to make such an impact, but "Please Look After Mom" is different. Shin Kyung-sook has swiveled the attention of the international literary community to Korea.

[ENG]
[Interview : Robin Desser, Vice President Knopf Publisher]

Shin Kyung-sook wrote about the life, love and significance of a mother in her book, and her novel went on to set records around the world.

[SOV]
I always wanted my mom with me as well!

After a long period of requesting an interview with this world-class author, Arirang Today was finally able to meet with her on December 29th, with just two days left in 2011. We started the interview by asking her about her 2011.

[Interview : Shin Kyung-sook, Novelist] "2011 was a turning point for me, and for my literary career. It was an opportunity for me to see whether my novels would be able to reach out to readers both in Korea and abroad".

Shin Kyung-sook spent the year meeting her readers all over the world.

[Interview : Shin Kyung-sook, Novelist] "My readers abroad have a chance to see Korean food and Korean culture through the novel. Many readers saw in "Please Look After Mom" a uniquely Korean kind of human relationship, and they saw in that relationship a recovery of a forgotten humanity, which gave them hope. In both Korea and abroad, "Please Look After Mom" had a much more enthusiastic response from readers who did not have good relationships with their mothers. One reporter surprised me by breaking down in tears".

In Korea, Shin Kyung-sook represents a transition point in literature. Now, the world market is looking for another Shin Kyung-sook to introduce. She has set the stage for Korean literature to gain the attention of the world.

[Interview : Shin Kyung-sook, Novelist] "From Somewhere Afar the Phone Keeps Ringing for Me" will soon be released in the United States. The first translation is now complete. Like with "Please Look After Mom", I am spending a lot of time speaking with the translator. I want to help find the most appropriate words in other languages to express what I have written in Korean. The translator's role is very important".

On the day of our interview, we had the opportunity to follow her to an event. It was a book concert, where she would read and speak to her readers. The venue was packed with her most ardent fans, many of whom seemed joyous that Shin Kyung-sook's literature was finally receiving the recognition it deserves.

[Interview : Lee Bo-hui, Visitor] "Shin Kyung-sook is a novelist who writes on her readers' souls".

[Interview : Seo Yeong-mi, Visitor] "Her writing gives me strength to help me overcome obstacles in life".

[Interview : Doh Doh-han, Visitor] "I think that she's a novelist who has changed the course of Korean literature".

[Interview : Kim Hye-seon, Visitor] "She's a novelist who gives others strength. I hope that she will be remembered for a long time".

When Shin Kyung-sook enters , the hall rings with applause.

[SOV]
[Interview : ] "Hello. Thank you for coming".

Shin Kyung-sook spoke with her fans about "Unknown Women", a collection of short stories to be published after eight years. The book concert was highlighted by a video "book trailer", a form of advertisement gaining popularity in literary circles.

[SOV]
[Interview : ] "As my heart distanced itself from love, it found freedom. Lonely freedom".

[SOV]
[Interview : ] "I don't want to fall again into a vortex aimed at another person, being whipped this way and that at every moment".

In 2012, Shin Kyung-sook aims to reach out to her readers through book trailers. She says that at times, she is bewildered by rapid changes like these in the publishing industry.

[Interview : Shin Kyung-sook, Novelist] "I'm still not familiar with e-books, and sometimes when I see paper books a part of me is saddened. When I think that these books could disappear with time, I want to stop it. Books are not just objects. They are emotions. It's important to feel the pages with your hands, to lean your cheek against the pages that you've read, to move physically from page to page".

Shin Kyung-sook made the dream of bringing Korean literature to the world a reality. In 2012, she is gearing up to write even more history in Korean literature. Please continue to watch and support novelist Shin Kyung-sook, who showed us that dreams can come true.

[Interview : Shin Kyung-sook, Novelist] "A few years ago, I began signing autographs with the words "May your dreams come true". This is the message I want to give my readers. I hope they will discover new dreams and work towards making them come true".