The Essence of Korean Literature: 13 Outstanding Short Stories by Our Authors
A portrait of the dark times of the 1950s and 1960s, elevated to high-quality literature.
A masterpiece filled with the anguish and passion of 11 writers representing the post-war generation.

“Well, didn’t he say this before he died? When he died, please bury him in the clothes he wore….”

Modern Korean short stories can be said to have begun with Kim Dong-in in the early 1920s.
In just over a decade, many writers published diverse and high-quality works, showing that Korean novels of the 1930s had already matured.
Although the harsh conditions of the late colonial period and the tragic history immediately following liberation were major obstacles to the development of Korean literature, Korean novels have steadily developed over the generations and accumulated many masterpieces.

Although literature is said to be a reflection of reality, the Korean short stories included here recreate the lives of a bygone era.
Yet, it doesn't stop there; it contains deep insights into the universal problems of life.
I hope that these novels will be widely read not only by Korean readers but also by readers around the world.
?Lee Nam-ho, from “The Editor’s Note”