An event to discuss the appeal of Korean literature in Tokyo, August 8, 4:02

Although there are concerns about the deterioration of Japan-Korea relations, Japanese and Korean literature has many works translated into one another, and is familiar to each reader. In Tokyo, a reading event was held on the night of the 7th to discuss the appeal of Korean literature. People who participated said, “I want to understand what people living in the same era feel through literature.”

A book cafe specializing in Korean books in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo held an event to discuss contemporary Korean literature on the night of the 7th, with approximately 20 people participating.

Translators also talked about the short story of Choi Eun-young's “Shoko's Smile” with the translator, “I felt close to my own pain”, “ "I was being" was exchanged.

In Japanese and Korean literature, works such as Haruki Murakami and Satoshi Higashino have been read a lot in Korea, while in Japan the translation of Korean works has progressed in the past 10 years, and it has become popular among readers. .

A man who participated said, “I don't know much about South Korea, and I want to know more because of the recent political situation. Through literature, I feel that people living in the same era feel. I want to understand. "

Kim Seung-bok, the representative of a publisher who introduced Korean literature to Japan that held an event, said, “Literature has the power to understand people's feelings over time. There are an increasing number of people who love Japanese literature, so I want to keep introducing many good things. "

“Shoko's Smile” Bestseller in Korea

Shoko's smile is the first short story published by Choi Eun Young, a 30-year-old female writer who debuted in 2013, three years ago in Korea. In Japan, a translated version was published last December. It was.

A high-school student “Shoko” who visited Japan from Korea for a week of cultural exchange and a homestay classmate “I” reunited after 10 years and faced each other ’s hearts. , Contains 7 works.

According to the publisher of the translated version, it is supported by a style that leaves a deep reverberation in the reader's mind with a quiet and neat style, and is a best seller in Korea.

Both Japanese and Korean literature firmly rooted in readers from both countries

According to Akira Kanno, a translator who is familiar with the acceptance of Japanese literature in Korea, translation literature was originally published in Korea. In the 1970s, novels rooted in the Christian faith of Ayako Miura, This means that historical novels have already been widely read.

In the 2000s, Haruki Murakami and Satoshi Higashino became the best-selling regulars, and new works of Japanese literature began to be read at the same time. It is being read.

On the other hand, since the beginning of the 2010s in Japan, translation of Korean literature, which was rare until then, has progressed, and several publishers have formed a series of contemporary Korean literature.

Especially in the last 5 years, the popularity has been growing rapidly. Cho Nam-joo ’s novel “Birth of 1982, Kim Ji-young”, which was released last year, is an unusual 130,000 hit in translation literature. In addition to the record, last month, the literary magazine “Bungei” featuring Korean literature has been reprinted twice for the first time in 86 years since its first issue.

Mr. Kanno said, “Culture is a very good phenomenon because it grows by influencing each other.” Based on the current relationship between Japan and Korea, “politics and culture are not equal. Literature is about drawing life and telling pleasure and sadness, and it is not something that is swayed by the political situation, because Japanese literature is firmly rooted in Korean readers, so if a non-buying movement occurs, it will no longer be read I don't think it should be. "

* Akira is "Sun" under "Analysis"