10 Must-Read Korean Novels in English in 2021
10 Must-Read Korean Novels in English in 2021
Outstanding Korean Novels in Translation
If you’re looking for the best Korean novels in English translation, this list of ten is the perfect place to start. Many of the Korean authors (and translators) mentioned here have entire libraries available for you to explore once you’ve exhausted this list.
1、I Alone Level-Up
I alone Level-Up is one of my favourite webnovels of all time. It has a very interesting plot that's done in its own style. The characters aren't amazing but still quite enjoyable.
My main reason for recommending it is because of the satisfying ending (if you read the side stories). You know how some webnovels end and you just want to throw those last chapters in the trash? Not this one. It wraps everything up really nicely with a good balance of all elements. Personally, if I know a story has a bad ending, I won't read it. But a great ending can save a bad story. Solo Leveling has a good story and a great ending so I highly recommend!
Synopsis:
10 years ago, after “the Gate” that connected the real world with the monster world opened, some of the ordinary, everyday people received the power to hunt monsters within the Gate. They are known as “Hunters”. However, not all Hunters are powerful. My name is Sung Jin-Woo, an E-rank Hunter. I’m someone who has to risk his life in the lowliest of dungeons, the “World’s Weakest”. Having no skills whatsoever to display, I barely earned the required money by fighting in low-leveled dungeons… at least until I found a hidden dungeon with the hardest difficulty within the D-rank dungeons! In the end, as I was accepting death, I suddenly received a strange power, a quest log that only I could see, a secret to leveling up that only I know about! If I trained in accordance with my quests and hunted monsters, my level would rise. Changing from the weakest Hunter to the strongest S-rank Hunter!
2、Remarried Empress
The more i read, the more i find this Emperor to be a moronic dumbass. Sigh. I’m trying but this Emperor really is beyond saving and deserves whatever he gets.
female jealousy is quite strong and i cant believe the Viscountess really went and ran her mouth like that. Sigh, even when she does her best to avoid and ignore the duo, they still do their best to drag her into their drama. Can this empress not have a peaceful day, at least once a week???
Synopsis:
Navier was the perfect empress, however, the Emperor wanted a wife, not a colleague. And so, the Emperor abandoned Empress Navier and placed a slave girl beside him. That was fine, until Navier heard the Emperor promise the slave girl the Empress’ position. After many ups and downs, Navier decided she would accept being the Queen of the emperor of the neighboring country and remarry.
3、Seoul Station’s Necromancer
Seoul Station’s Necromancer is a pretty good light novel although ，quite gay, also quite short.
Synopsis:
[You have entered the dungeon at Gwachun Station’s 1st Exit.] When former high school student Kang Woojin finds himself returned back to Earth after being forcibly summoned to a foreign planet for 20 years, he soon finds that Earth is not the same, normal place as he once remembered it to be. With his former strength and age reset back to zero, watch Kang Woojin as he gets back on the path to becoming the Earth’s strongest Necromancer! Translator: NaughtyOtter
I hate the fact that some people insinuate customers must be treated as ‘gods’ or something. Yeah, there should be no screaming at them, but if they are acting rudely, you should be able to confidently tell them to get out and if they are talking too loud to hear common sense, raise your voice back to educate them. A chef should have respect for the customer and the customer for the chef.
Synopsis:
30-year-old Jo Minjoon has always wanted to become a chef. He started his culinary career late in life, however, and is currently chopping onions at a restaurant. Regretting his life choices, he wishes he could go back to change it all and falls asleep. Meanwhile, someone out there is willing to give him another chance and send him back in time. How will he use the new powers he obtained from this mysterious being?
5、Second Life Ranker
If you're a fan of Korean novels this is a definite recommendation! Smart MC works hard to find out what happened to his brother and get revenge. His journey up the 'tower' is interesting with plenty of variety in rooms/levels. This novel has great combat, a solid power system, and great world-building!
Don't sleep on this one if you're looking for a new read. I hope we can continue to get solid content like this on Wuxiaworld. Everyone should check this out to show support for new novels and leave a review!
Synopsis
Yeon-woo had a twin brother who disappeared five years ago. One day, a pocket watch left by his brother returned to his possession. Inside, he found a hidden diary in which was recorded “By the time you hear this, I guess I will be already dead….” Obelisk, the Tower of the Sun God, a world where several universes and dimensions intersect. In this world, his brother had fallen victim to betrayal while climbing up the tower. After learning the truth, Yeon-woo decided to climb the tower along with his brother’s diary. “From now on, I am Jeong-woo Cha.”
6、Above your head
More likely than not, this whole story will go above your head. You need some galaxy brain to handle this. I have no idea what is happening. I can’t tell if the main character is emotionally stunted or not, if he is adapting or rigid. I feel like he’s a little too much go with the flow, it’s like I’m reading a Japanese isekai without a plot, except there is too much plot, happening all at once, all the time. Time and space are irrelevant. This was like readin the first arc of mushoku back when it was on Baka tsuki right at the turning point. But every other mini arc is a turning point. Nothing is as it seems, don’t trust what you read. Don’t trust me.
Synopsis:
Kwan Dae-ha. A second-year high school student who looks ordinary but is not ordinary.He had a secret he couldn’t tell anyone…And it was that he was able to see the ‘Affiliation’ and ‘State’ above the heads of the people.Is this world where people’s titles are visible real?It was already tough as it was, but he keeps getting entangled with his ability and extraterrestrial beings!Today, the boy dreams of peace.…Although it will be hard.
7、Duke Pendragon
I'm not sure what to say, so far this is a dark, fast paced, no nonsense revenge story that I just can't put down. It opens with the MC having spent the last 10 years being forced into one bloody battle after another as punishment after getting framed for treason, and now that he's gone back in time he's not going to take crap from anyone as he tries to unravel the conspiracy and restore his family's honor and reputation. So far we have undying humans, dragons, and unknown 'beings' pulling the strings from the shadows. It's shaping up to be a real ride, and the translation is top notch.
Week later edit: well, that seriousness didn't last. We now have multiple chapters with nothing but "misunderstandings" and awkward situations. Even now that it's starting to pick up again there's always a female around to turn red at this or that. Definitely not what I was expecting after how the first few chapters started.
Synopsis:
The demonic army is where the worst of the worst gather. A man who survived for close to ten years, the illegitimate son of the Valt family, Raven Valt, is assigned to accompany Duke Alan Pendragon, the contractor of the white dragon, and be his guard. But due to an unknown conspiracy he is killed along with the duke and his dragon, Soldrake. When he opens his eyes, he’s back seven years in the past, and even more strangely, as Alan Pendragon…
8、Etranger
This novel has the potential to be brilliant. It’s giving me a hunger games, terror infinity, survival horror game type vibe. The characters seem well thought out and I’m honestly looking forward to the rest of the novel. Tbh although I’ve seen the concept before this author seems to definitely have his own style of going about things. The chapters are long and its a book where you can’t just skim the paragraphs but I’m really looking forward to this. I won’t say much about the 2 main characters because it’s only 5 chapters in and while they are set up well we don’t know much about them really. Even with that tho they already seem to have a nice depth to them. The world on the other hand is set up amazing so far and leaves you wanting more but in a very good way. I’ll be keeping an eye on this novel. After you’ve read some leave a comment and tell your thoughts. I’m interested to know…
Synopsis:
Two Korean military soldiers, San and Biyeon, are participating in a joint forces exercise when their futures become intertwined through an accident, leading them down a path of struggle, pain, frustration, longing, and enlightenment.Their adventure starts in a new world, a world where things are not always as they seem. Common sense needs to be reviewed and old ways of understanding the world no longer apply.Only their determination and will drive them forward. What is the limit of human potential? How much can be planned and how much must be left to chance?They can only depend on their will to blaze a path forward…
9、Overgeared
This is a Great novel,mc starts as an ahole at first but gets nicer so dont let that stop you from reading it, so small summary:
Mc(grid) is a player that took a quest to search for a book for a noble in game somethings went different and he got a new class pagma's decendant this class is a mic of a blacksmith and a fighter that can use only a specif skill sworddances. he like the ahole he still is hates it because it looks weak but later apreciates it more and more with the help of a guild he later joins
Synopsis:
The basis of this novel is a virtual reality game called Satisfy, developed by the world’s top genius scientist Lim Cheolho and world-class scientists.
The main character is timid, flaky, selfish, cares about money and easily feels jealous of others. Because the author set up the character in this way, the story was difficult for the readers to read.
But as the main character encounters various people and geniuses, he internally matures and his personality changes. If the main character is described as cancerous early on, at present he can be called a mature adult. However, those who don’t read beyond the early parts of the 5th volume (~ chapter 90) find it hard to believe.
The basic settings and story line are similar to other VR novels, but the praiseworthy thing is the content development. The early parts aren’t much different from rival novels, but the novel rating has exceeded the market average in recent years due to the writer’s growth.
Like other novels, it contains a munchkin element, but it is different from typical munchkins. In the early stages, the game progresses with the main character using his class of a legendary blacksmith. The main character expands the game content and the level of the existing users dramatically increase. Hidden talents, new players in the official rankings, classes that could break the balance, all of this makes the main character’s one-man show impossible. The main character grows internally and externally while competing with others.
In fact, if you compare the simple and ignorant battle method in the beginning to his abilities in the present time, it is possible to feel such a sense of distance that he doesn’t seem like the same character.
As for the evaluation of the work, the criticism was severe in the beginning, but the popularity increased rapidly after that. As described above, the improvement in the author’s writing and the growth of the main character led to rapid changes in the comments. However, the main character’s selfish and frustrating behaviour caused many readers to stop reading in the beginning. For the readers who have gone beyond the beginning, it is a tragedy that seems really pitiful.
10、My Civil Servant Life Reborn in the Strange World
This is a well-written, humorous, Korean version of the typical Japanese Isekai. So far the character is a little slow-witted due to his sheltered upbringing, but his past life memories keep him from being stupid or dense, just lacking in some general knowledge of his new world. The only issue I have so far is the lack of chapters, it's a bit slow-moving but solid writing and an excellent translation give me high hopes for the future of this novel.
Synopsis
He was on his way to buy some beer to celebrate his acceptance as a civil servant when he was suddenly banged down and isekai'd by truck-kun.
Reincarnated as Denburg Blade, the son of a legendary battle race chief, he caught demons at 8 years old and a dragon at 12 years old. Subjected to the spartan-style training of his muscular monster of a father, he lived an inhuman daily life.
"I must leave this place that is far from peaceful!"
Safety is the best! So he chose to be a civil servant of the empire!
Can Denburg really become a civil servant and live the peaceful and stable life he wished for?
More Korean Novels recommended below
11、Dungeon Hunter
Best Dungeon story I have ever read, and have read many of them. I love this story very much. I have been writting as a personal hobby my own Dungeon story inspired from reading other stories about dungeons (never plan on publishing/posting it) but this story is far better than anything I could write. I feel bad for not being as good as this author but I am glad I got to read such an amazing story. Try it and see for yourself, I only regret not reading this sooner.
Synopsis
I failed and will challenge again. There is no room for failure in my second life! 72 dungeons and their owners that appeared on earth. And the Awakened. I am a hunter that will devour all of them.
The author's writing and the translation quality is just as exceptional as it was two years ago, despite this being an earlier prototype version.Vastly different from the LN, yet still enjoyable in its own way.I am scared though. I have heard infamous rumours about how the web novel ends.
Do you know how this world ends? Become the hero and defeat the 72 Demon Lords. The game that was boasted as the absolute hardest strategy game, 『Dungeon Attack』.I used to be the ‘hero’ that had accomplished everything in this game, but after answering a suspicious survey, I found myself in the game as the weakest Demon Lord, 「Dantalian」.With only my eloquent tongue and my memories of conquest as a hero—.In order to survive as Dantalian. I shall tear this world apart.
Made me laugh out loud a lot, interesting developments, typical OP MC. +1 for yandere, though its more of a gag haha. I liked how the MC is brutally honest and acts villainous but in the end his actions are of benefit to others. Love the lazy king vibes, but just doing what he must and avoiding anything else because he's lazy.
“My life as a demon… No. My life as human is really…” Artpe was supposed to live a charmed life as the 4th strongest in the Demon King’s Army. However, his life was cut short by the hero’s blade. With his previous life’s memory intact, Artpe will live his life again. His boldness and resourcefulness will make him unrivalled!
Please read this, it’s so inspiring and gives you another look at humanity. It shows you doctors as guardians of life rather than repairmen of injures and money grabbers. The effort put into writing it also astounds me. Although there were a few minor plot oddities, in the end everything was wrapped up nicely and I cried just because it was the end. It was a smooth read and totally worth it. It’s not that long either so it’s definitely worth it to be able to read all the way to the end.
Golden time is a Korean Medical Drama/ Reincarnation Novel. The novel is short and progresses quickly as the main character is sent back in time to his teenage years when he got into a severe accident. Causing him to lose most of his memories and even trapping him in a coma for three months. The main character wakes up 3 months later where the only memory remaining in his head are his medical knowledge and his name. A story about the life of a young teenage boy growing up as he strives to save as many lives as he can and becoming the greatest doctor in the world. Golden Time, a moment in which a life can be saved!
15、National School Prince Is A Girl
I was in the library when i saw this, and i ended up shouting in surprise! The librarian got angry. But! But! But! It's actually here!!!! My prayers! Hahaha they're not in vain. I love this novel so much that i painstakingly read all the available raw chaps.... This is freaking awesome! Must read! Must read!
On the surface, she’s a gay high school boy. In reality, she’s the hacker known as Z, who hunts criminals on the Internet. A girl dressed in men’s clothes; a master at playing games, punishing evil, and having the highest skill in seducing girls. When people learned that “he” was actually female, the entire population blew up! Fu Jiu: “Great Deity Qin, do you have a girlfriend?” Qin Mo puts down the laptop: “I don’t have one.” Fu Jiu starts to seduce in a low voice: “In that case, you have one starting now. Me.” Hearing this, Qin Mo leans over tyrannically. Fu Jiu is dumbstruck: “Hold on! What are you doing?” Qin Mo: “Using my privilege as a boyfriend.”
16、Legend of Legends
The world was hit by an abnormal narcolepsy, and there was a mass coma. Lee-joonhyuk was transferred to a dimensional battle field as he fell into an abnormal narcoleptic sleep. This is the story of him as he starts as a minion.
Abnormal Narcoleptic Sleep: On certain Days anyone Under 40 and hinted at least 16 could just randomly fall sleep.
They are Transported to a different World to do Battle, if they die their soul is destroyed and their body never wakes up.
This is a story mainly following Lee-Joonhyuk : Minion 00110230 on his rise in power while he does his best to stay alive. Does have some real world story also but not to much to make it boring. Very much a Korean story taking some hints from a Japanese novel with out Losing its Korean Roots.
The world was hit by an abnormal narcolepsy, and there was a mass coma. Lee-joonhyuk was transferred to a dimensional battle field as he fell into an abnormal narcoleptic sleep. This is the story of him as he starts as a minion.
17、Empire of the Ring
A surprisingly good story even though I feel the plot armor is a bit thick at times with how successful the main character is I don't hate it much but it's there if you were wondering. The fantasy elements are not particularly apparent in their uses. It seems like a good novel and writing anything more would be a spoiler.
Empire of the Ring is a Korean modern fantasy epic adventure novel that sets in the nations of the Caucasus mountain range which separates Europe and Asia. The nations of Caucasus are regions of many conflicts over territories, ethnicities, and religions. The story begins as Lee Youngho, a warm-hearted Korean merchandiser, takes a business trip to a disputed territory of the Caucasus nations to sell Korean unmanned security systems only to get misconstrued as a spy and caught by Armenian militia. Youngho eventually gets involved with the militia and CIA to help out people of the regions from conflicts and works toward a birth of a new empire in Caucasus.
18、Stop, Friendly Fire!
This is a Toika novel, so expect the fourth wall breaking and skeleton jokes. This is like a VRMMO novel with the grinding and stuff at the start, but it will probably stop or lessen at the middle parts. Everyone expects it to suddenly at the end the MC killing the last boss like a tr*sh mob, probably.
Toika really wants to make a novel without a harem (but forced by fans to do it anyways) so he probably made the MC a skeleton and I envision him laughing like a villain saying "NOW NOTHING CAN STOP ME FROM MAKING A NOVEL WITHOUT A HAREM"
The empire has turned into the land of the undead due to a spell gone wrong. God summoned heroes from countless worlds to purify the empire and plant new hope. Lee Shin Woo, an ordinary earthling, was also summoned. As an undead, that is.
19、My Range is One Million
5 STARS FOR GREAT TRANSLATION QUALITY 100% CAN READ EVERYTHING NOT CONFUSING AT ALL.
DEFINITELY DID NOT GIVE UP ON THE SECOND CHAPTER BECAUSE OF HORRIBLE TRANSLATION QUALITY, BECAUSE WHY WOULD I GIVE UP SUCH AMAZING WORKMANSHIP?
Have you been targeted? Maybe, since you’ve been in his range all along. What else can you do but prepare yourself to be killed?
20、The World after the Fall
This story is amazing, its gritty, its realistic, and it takes the idea of a systemic world and chucks it out the window. Similar to omniscient reader or way of choices, but with a sense of freedom and no system.
Very similar to one man army / emperor of solo play with one character against the world, wait universe sounds better. final space reference)
One day, a tower appeared in the skies of all the major cities… Humans were suddenly summoned to become “Walkers”, and they needed to clear the tower to save the world. . . “Floor 77” The “Stone of regression” was discovered. Walkers could now “return” to the past. Slowly… everyone left. . . Humanity’s last hope, “Carpe Diem” was formed, joined by people who refused to abandon the world. . . The last Walker reached floor 100. He no longer knew what to believe.
21、I am the Monarch
Well, to be honest, I just want to let you guys know my true feeling. This is the best novel that I have ever read in my entire life. My life changed since the moment I read this novel.
For a very long time, I struggled, struggled so hard to find the correct path of my life. What kind of man I want to become. But now, it's clear, thank to this novel.
Guys, I was a useless, hopeless man. A coward who was lack of will to do anything. I was always stop in the middle, not able to achieve anything I desire.
Maybe you guys will laugh at me if you know I smiled but also cried a lot while reading this novel. The main character always put all of his effort into all things he do.
But why, me, never able to give my best into things I want to achieve?. It's ridiculous to compare a fiction-character with a real person right? But let just say I did that, because I am s*upid and naïve person. Hehehe.
And I realized the reason why he could try his best, tried everyday without stopping. It was because his strong desire. But, I have no desire. I have no desire girls (I am not gay lol), no desire for wealth, no desire for anything. I have no goals and I threw away my life and let the whole universe decide it for me.
I realized how he could win people's heart. It was because he gave away his care, love, and all of him. We can only receive respect and love from people if we give them our love and respect first, isn't it?
'I don't need your acknowledgement, but I do need you'. Said by him. That sentence shocked me greatly. Roan himself is not a genius. He know that. Therefore, he need people to go with him. His people is his strongest weapon.
After witness so many his victories, in the first time of my life, I finally had a desire. It was to become a hero like him. A s*upid, naïve kid want to become a hero. Hahaha, it's like daydreaming right? I know, but please let me live in my delusion.
Through him, I learnt a lot of things and I tried hard to achieve them.
I will try to create desires and harbor them.
I will treat people with all my heart.
I will learn to be confident but not arrogant.
..... And many many things more.
Thank to him, I was able to try harder and achieve results. I'm having a job, it's not really good but it can give me a freely life without too much worrying about bills. And I will try to have the better and better job in future. Although I only made some friends but I completely trust and love them. Fortunately, they also love and respect me back. Yeh... There are a lot of thing that I still need to learn from him. To become a great man like him.
Roan who ran away 20 years ago from the rural village in the aim of becoming a Great General who will rule the world. However, all he got 20 years later was just a handful of money and a low position that is a 1st legion’s spearman. At the end, he becomes a cold corpse in the battlefield. But somehow, he came back in the past. “Alright. This time, I won’t become a Great General but a Monarch.” His previous life’s aim was becoming a Great General. But, he only became a spearman. This time, his life’s aim is becoming the Monarch. “Then I guess I’d become at least a general, right?” Roan who remembers what happened the 20 years. Now starts his unstoppable march in becoming a Monarch.
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