Getting ready for your participation in the upcoming WLIC 2026 this August? We’ve curated a list of themed books to help you prepare!
Enrich your experience of Busan, South Korea, by diving into books that bring the country’s rich culture, history, and landscapes to life, with recommendations from Busan Metropolitan City, Busan Metropolitan Library, and the WLIC 2026 National Committee.
From vivid stories that capture the spirit of its people to a thoughtfully curated selection of travel reads, this collection lets you connect with the destination before you even arrive. Don’t wait until you’re on the plane; start exploring now and experience Busan on a deeper level from the very first page.
Korean Heritage and Culture
- HALLYU: How Korea Captivated the World (Jan 2024) by Chang Dae-whan
ISBN 9791164846474 - Hanok: The Traditional Korean House (Jan 2016) by Yi Ki-ung and Seo Heun-kang
ISBN 9788930105163 - Korean Culture Dictionary (Oct 2020) by Woosung Kang
ISBN 9791188195602
Literature
- Pachinko (Nov 2017) by Min Jin Lee
ISBN 9781455563920 - The Picture Bride (Oct 2022) by Lee Geum-yi
ISBN 9781250808660 - Human Acts (Oct 2017) by Hang Kang
ISBN 9781101906743 - Please Look After Mom (Apr 2012) by Kyung-Sook Shin
ISBN 9780307739513 - Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop (Apr 2025) by Hwang Bo-reum
ISBN 9781639736379 - Straight Outta Busan (Apr 2025) by Stefano Jun
ISBN 9781998489152 - Echoes of the White Giraffe (Jan 1993) by Sook Nyul Choi
ISBN 9780395647219 - At Dusk (Jul 2019) by Soon Nyul Choi
ISBN 9781947534667 - Everything Belongs to Us (Feb 2017) by Yoojin Grace Wuertz
ISBN 9780812998542 - The Island of Sea Women (Mar 2020) by Lisa Lee
ISBN 9781501154867 - Counterattacks at Thirty (Mar 2025) by Won-pyung Sohn
ISBN 9780063424784 - Yeonnam-Dong’s Smiley Laundromat (Jun 2025) by Kim Jiyun
ISBN 9781529437423 - Palimpsest (Nov 2019) by Lisa Wool-Rim and Sjöblom
ISBN 9781770463301 - Meet Me at Blue Hour (Apr 2025) by Sarah Suk
ISBN 9780063255180
Non-Fiction
- Korea’s Place in the Sun: A Modern History (Sep 2005) by Bruce Cumings
ISBN 9780393327021 - Everyday Korean: Fresh, Modern Recipes for Home Cooks (Nov 2017) by Kim Sunée and Seung Hee Lee
- Busan Travel Guide (May 2025) by Dean Birkland
ISBN 9798283914138 - Lonely Planet Korea (Dec 2024) by Simon Richmond, Ann Babe, Marco Ferrarese, and Meeyoo Kwon
ISBN 9781838698218