By Chung Ah-young
Staff Reporter
``Take Care of My Mom,’’ by celebrated author Shin Kyung-sook, which recently set a record by selling one million copies in the shortest period ever, is receiving global attention.
The book was first published by Changbi Publisher in November last year and has created a ``mother syndrome’’ in the local publishing industry, which quickly produced other literary works with a similar theme to capitalize on the popularity.
According to Imprima, a local publishing copyright agency, a growing number of foreign publishers are showing interest in the novel.
Currently, six foreign publishers are seeking to buy overseas publishing rights for the novel. Oh! Editions in France, J. M. Meulenhoff in the Netherlands, and People’s Literature Publishing House in China have already purchased licenses for the work. The agency is currently negotiating contract conditions with Japanese publisher Shueisha.
``Also, publishing companies from Germany, Spain and the United States are offering to make a contract with us. So we are stepping up efforts to promote the novel worldwide ahead of the Frankfurt Book Fair in October,’’ Oh Sun-joo, an official of the agency, told The Korea Times.
She said that the foreign agencies have embraced the book’s theme of motherhood in the same way that Koreans have.
``Some agencies expressed strong emotions. Some said that they shed tears over their mother’s sacrifice after reading just the partial, 50-page translation. The universal message about mothers that is portrayed with the unique Korean emotion might be the primary reason for the interest from the foreign market,’’ she said.
Barbara J. Zitwer, an American literary agent, said that Shin’s book is universal and the story and mystery of the book’s ``mom’’ is the mystery of all moms.
``All of us reading the book around the world cannot but help and think about our mothers, and our friends’ mothers and daughters and families. The author is Korean and the book is very Korean in its intimate and gentle voice but Shin’s voice is, at the same time, so powerful and compelling. The thoughts, characters, ideas and the very fibre of the book are completely universal. This is a book for all readers, especially women, all over the world. The book is gripping, thought provoking and also I think that people around the world are extremely excited to discover a new literary voice. Shin is fresh and unknown now to most of the world ― so the book is a fantastic surprise to us all,’’ said Zitwer.