Korean Feminist Novel Proves Hit in China

Published on 2019/10/20 | Source

Writer Cho Nam-joo's feminist novel "Kim Ji-young, Born in 1982" has become a bestseller in China after sweeping Japan.

The Chinese translation was published last month and topped the fiction sales list on Dangdang, China's largest online bookstore, on Wednesday, although it dropped to second place the next day.

Chinese readers say most young women in East Asia will recognize themselves in the protagonist, who has lived in a male-dominated society within the context of a broadly similar modern history.

The book's publisher Mineumsa said it has printed 65,000 copies including the first print run of 40,000. Over 1.2 million copies of the book has been printed so far and the rights have been sold to 16 countries.

The film "KIM Jiyoung: Born 1982" based on the novel starring Jung Yu-mi and Gong Yoo is set for release next week, giving sales a fresh fillip.

The Japanese edition, which was released in December last year, has sold more than 140,000 copies.