Kim’s debut novel, “Beasts of a Little Land,” earned her the Tolstoy Prize on October 10, coinciding with the announcement of Han Kang as the first Korean Nobel Literature laureate. (Image courtesy of Kim Juhea)
MOSCOW, Oct. 14 (Korea Bizwire) – Kim Juhea, a 37-year-old Korean-American writer who recently won the foreign literature category of Russia’s esteemed Tolstoy Literature Prize (Yasnaya Polyana Award), believes that “the deep and passionate souls of Korean people are the strength of Korean literature.”
In an interview with Yonhap News at a Moscow hotel on October 11, Kim shared her thoughts on why Korean literature has been gaining global attention recently.
Kim’s debut novel, “Beasts of a Little Land,” earned her the Tolstoy Prize on October 10, coinciding with the announcement of Han Kang as the first Korean Nobel Literature laureate. This dual recognition marks a significant milestone for Korean literature on the world stage.
“It’s an incredible honor to be mentioned alongside Han Kang,” Kim said, expressing her admiration.
Agreeing with media assessments that “K-literature has started to resonate globally,” Kim noted, “While individual writers’ skills and achievements are crucial, this success is also a result of national support, such as from the Literature Translation Institute of Korea, coupled with the overall rise in Korea’s cultural recognition.”
Kim emphasized the unique strengths of Korean literature: “Although each writer has their own style, Korean literature inherently possesses global appeal. I believe Korean literature has a much broader range in touching readers’ hearts. This is because Koreans have deep affection and passionate souls.”
English edition and Korean edition of “Beasts of a Little Land” by Juhea Kim (Image courtesy of Ecco, Dasan Books)
She elaborated on the nuanced characterization in Korean novels: “Characters in Korean fiction are multidimensional. They show true humans who are neither entirely good nor evil. This allows readers to continue observing and ultimately empathize with even morally complex characters. The power of literature lies in opening hearts to feel compassion and pain for others.”
Born in Incheon in 1987, Kim moved to the United States at age nine. While she describes herself as Korean-American, she stated, “I consider myself Korean.”
“Beasts of a Little Land” is steeped in Korean narrative, unfolding the turbulent lives of those who struggled during the Japanese occupation of Korea. Kim drew inspiration from her grandfather’s experiences as an independence activist.
Kim believes that sharing Korea’s independence story is particularly meaningful in a world grappling with war, violence, poverty, famine, and environmental destruction. “We may view the present as bleak, but in this novel, our ancestors achieved independence in even more desperate times, never losing altruism, courage, and love despite uncertain survival. I want to inspire courage in people,” she emphasized.
Influenced significantly by Russian literature, Kim finds it particularly meaningful that her novel about Korean history has been highly acclaimed in Russia. She expressed special honor in receiving an award named after Leo Tolstoy, whose “Anna Karenina” she considers the pinnacle of novel writing.
“I’ve read ‘Anna Karenina’ multiple times since childhood. Whenever I felt my writing was faltering, I would open any page of this book and copy it,” Kim reflected on honing her writing skills through Tolstoy’s work.
Kim’s next work, set in Russia and France and centered on a ballerina’s story, is set for release in the United States next month. It will be published in Korea under the title “City of Nightingales” in the first half of next year by Dasan Books.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
