Korean Books

A revised edition commemorating the 40th anniversary of the debut of mystery master Keigo Higashino, a social mystery masterpiece, has been released! Keigo Higashino's 'Empty Cross' explores the sharp questions of atonement and punishment, returning to readers in a new form. With its signature overwhelming density and unpredictable plot twists, 'Empty Cross' is undeniably Higashino's masterpiece. Now, with the artwork of photographer Okto Lee, this masterpiece offers an even more immersive experience.

'Empty Cross' begins with Nakahara, the protagonist who has just lost his daughter, receiving news of his ex-wife's death from a detective. Twenty years ago, the two went their separate ways after their daughter's murder. Years later, Nakahara, who has lost a family member in a murder, delves into the tangled web of secrets woven within the case. Keigo Higashino delivers a profound message of guilt, punishment, and forgiveness in this captivating and captivating story.

Keigo Higashino - Japan's bestselling and multi-prize winning author

The first novel by the famous Japanese comedian Hikorohi has been published by Bungeishunju.

When we fall in love, we all become fools, repeating behaviors that are difficult to understand from an outsider's perspective. Women who like bad boys, men who like bad girls, those who are too clumsy to express themselves, and those who confess their feelings that are on the verge of bursting.

The characters in the work are ordinary people who are confused about the 'present moment', realize it too late, blame themselves, ultimately feel lonely, and somehow rationalize themselves and their circumstances.

'Love Worn Out of Reach' is a story that serves as a kind of inner confession of their inner selves.

Winner of the 31st Shimase Romance Literature Award

I moved into a billionaire's home as a housekeeper, hiding my criminal record. But I wasn't the only one harboring a secret.

After weeks of living and eating in the backseat of a car after my release, I finally had a last chance: a job as a housekeeper in a wealthy family. It didn't matter that I had to live in a cramped attic with no windows and a door that could only be locked from the outside.

My first task was to clean up the kitchen, which my landlady, Nina, always dressed in white, had left in shambles. This routine continued, but Nina seemed oblivious to her actions, and rumors spread that she was mentally ill. Despite all the bizarre demands, I persevered, working to avoid being fired.

Then one day, a taciturn foreign gardener spoke to me with a serious expression. I couldn't understand it, but I later looked it up and found it meant 'danger'. Immediately afterward, I tried to turn the handle to leave the attic, but the door suddenly wouldn't open. 'Are they locking me in? Let's calm down'.

They still don't know my secret: who I really am and what I can do

I married a psychopath! What seemed like the perfect marriage turned out to be hell. And then, a young, pretty caregiver arrived.

Victoria's life seemed perfect. A solid career. A handsome, loving husband. A large, beautiful home with plans to fill it with children. But after a terrible accident, everything falls apart. Unable to walk, eat, or speak, Victoria is trapped in her upstairs apartment. Her husband, Adam, hires Sylvia, whom he met by chance, as Victoria's caregiver.

Facing immediate eviction, Sylvia, sensing an ominous premonition, chooses to join the massive, secluded mansion as a caregiver. As she cares for Victoria, Sylvia grows closer to her, discovering Victoria's diary hidden in a drawer. Inside, she finds a shocking entry.

Did Victoria really suffer an accident? What do the incomprehensible words Victoria mutters every day mean? This psychological thriller will keep you on your toes until the very end

To commemorate the 15th anniversary of the passing of author Park Wan-seo, a deep root that has supported the Korean literary world and a giant treetop that has grown through generations, Munhakdongne is publishing a collection of Park Wan-seo short stories titled 'Grandma Judy - The Top 10 Park Wan-seo Short Stories Loved by Novelists'.

Since making her literary debut in 1970, Park Wan-seo has produced countless masterpieces, including novels like 'Namok', 'Who Ate All the Singa?', 'That Man's House' and 'Widow', as well as essay collections like 'Even a Grain of Truth', 'Just Say One Word' and 'If I Could Only Be a Traveler'. Her vibrant vitality continues to enthrall readers. Even while writing novels, which require considerable time, and prose, which captures fragments of her lived experiences, she has also published short stories with remarkable vigor.

'Grandma Judy' is a book designed to shed new light on the outstanding achievements of Park Wan-seo's short stories

We invite you to 'Coffee Ghost Stories', a gathering of eerie ghost stories that unfold as they visit old Japanese cafes.

Record company producer Damon Tsukazaki receives an invitation one day from his friend Onoe in Kyoto. Braving the sweltering heat, Damon heads to an old Kyoto cafe, where he encounters Onoe and another friend, Mizushima. Onoe suggests to his friends, whom he hasn't seen in a while, that they hold a gathering called 'Coffee Ghost Stories', where they will tour cafes and tell each other ghost stories. Damon, unable to resist, sits down and listens...

The quiet moments of an old café, moments imbued with a strange energy, and the stories the author personally experienced and heard leave a gentle yet profound lingering impression, drawing the reader into a chilling world

An actress's body was discovered in a contrabass case ahead of a performance of the opera 'Madame Butterfly'. A meticulously planned murder unfolds behind the scenes.

After a successful performance of 'Madame Butterfly' in Tokyo, the Hara Sakura Opera Troupe splits into two groups for the Osaka performance two days later. First, the troupe's leader and leading actress, the renowned soprano Hara Sakura, will head to Osaka with the advance party, while the rest of the troupe will take an overnight train to Osaka on the day of the performance and rehearse. However, for some reason, Hara Sakura disappears after checking in and leaving the hotel. She doesn't show up until the next rehearsal.

Meanwhile, the troupe discovers a contrabass at the entrance to the dressing room. However, the unexpected weight causes them to drop it, causing the case lid to open... Inside, instead of a contrabass, they find 'Madame Butterfly' Hara Sakura, covered in roses.

A colorful narrative, ingenious tricks, Yokomizo's challenge to the Western mystery masters

A story about men who devoted themselves to their work only to become worn-out shoes. Beyond gender discrimination and conflict, the weight and hardship of being a man in Korea

Gender conflict is reaching a fever pitch in Korean society. While feminism is gaining traction as a sharp counter to gender discrimination, men are suffering a double burden, not theoretically, but in reality.

Their burden is not lifted, but rather an additional one is added. A novel, 'Men Born in 1974, 1975, 1976, and 1968', has been published, speaking to these men's plight. Author Woo Hyun-do has compiled this novel based on the vivid voices of men he has encountered. While humbly acknowledging that the novel is written from a male perspective, he emphasizes the need to discern the pain contained within these voices.

In this sense, the novel is a cry and a scream. It captures pure emotion, neither embellished nor prettified. The author argues that just as men do not fully understand the struggles of women, the opposite is also true, and sends the message that empathy and understanding are necessary to overcome discrimination and conflict

Keigo Higashino celebrates his 40th anniversary as an author! With an eye for truth and a step toward sincerity, Tsutomu Godai begins a new series. 'I never thought the day would come when I would write about this subject matter'. - Keigo Higashino.

The bodies of a famous politician and a former actor are found in a burned-out mansion. What happened to these men who lived such glamorous lives? What secrets do they harbor? Detective Godai travels across Japan to unravel the mystery of this seemingly intractable case. His seemingly trivial suspicions, however, build up, ultimately revealing a devastating secret. This work showcases Keigo Higashino's captivating power, even without a genius character or outrageous crime.

Fictitious Crime: Winner of the 2025 Japan Mystery Literature Award. Keigo Higashino, is a leading Japanese author and the author of the unprecedented feat of surpassing 100 million copies sold in Japan

Silence was a choice for survival, and memory was a resistance to staying alive. Leaving behind the layers of scars, she never gave up, moving forward, step by step!

Misuk, who lived in a rural village near Baekun Mountain, grew up and exchanged marriage promises with her love. Dreaming of a bright future, she was suddenly visited by Dalsu, a former guerrilla fighter, who told her the shocking story of her birth and tragic fate...

Some cries are silent. They are choked in the throat, lost in the lips, and ultimately resonate only within the heart. This novel is the story of those unspoken cries.

The times demanded silence, and silence became a condition of survival. Only those who remained silent survived, and only those who forgot could move on. But everyone knew: forgetting was not the end, but the beginning of a deeper wound. The characters in this novel endured by remaining silent, surviving by persevering, but ultimately, their lives begin to falter again in the face of the weeping that builds within their hearts.

'The Bird That Cries with Its Heart' is not the narrative of an individual, but a record of emotions that have transcended an era. Faces unorganized by history, lives relegated to statistics and chronology, and deaths never fully mourned by anyone. This novel cautiously poses questions atop the rubble: did we truly deserve to cry, or do we still live without it?