I am an editorial writer at The Korea Times, focusing on foreign policy, North Korea and domestic politics. My key areas of interest include North Korea, foreign interference in elections, election integrity, cyberattacks and human rights. Prior to joining the Editorial Board, I served as both Politics Desk editor and Culture Desk editor. During my career, I have reported on the Presidential Office under the Lee Myung-bak administration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Assembly.
EXCLUSIVE Psychological thriller 'Perfect Happiness' to hit US, UK bookstores
Barbara Zitwer, a New York-based literary agent and founder of Barbara Zitwer Agency / Courtesy of Barbara Zitwer
By Kang Hyun-kyung
New York-based agent Barbara Zitwer calls it this year's most sought-after book worldwide
By Kang Hyun-kyung
Star novelist Jeong You-jeong's chilling psychological thriller, “Perfect Happiness,” published by EunHaengNaMu Publishing Co., has been on the bestseller list of the nation's largest bookstore, Kyobo Books, for weeks since it went on sale in Korea in early June.
According to the Seoul-based publisher, over 100,000 copies have been sold so far.
“Perfect Happiness” revolves around a self-absorbed sister who develops a victim mentality toward her older sister. Their sibling rivalry leads to a tragic showdown. The protagonist tries to achieve happiness for her own sake at the expense of others and endeavors to remove what she perceives as obstacles standing in her own pursuit of happiness. Her version of perfect happiness turns out to be self-destructive.
While Korean readers have been drawn to the riveting thriller as it unravels the darkest sides of humans, the book is currently being translated into English by award-winning translator Sean Lin Halbert. Once he has completed the translation of a part, New York-based literary agent Barbara Zitwer will use that to sell the Korean author's book to publishers in the United States and United Kingdom.
“I am working with Barbara on Jeong You-jeong's new novel, 'Perfect Happiness.' I've only translated a short sample so far,” Halbert told The Korea Times. “We'll be showing that sample to publishers soon.”
Halbert said that he found “Perfect Happiness” very exciting as a murder mystery and psychological thriller.
“The point of view is also interesting as it's told through the point of view of a young girl but in the third person, which seems contradictory. I'm still trying to figure out how to get the narration right,” he said.
Star novelist Jeong You-jeong's new novel, “Perfect Happiness,” is currently being translated into English for overseas sales.
Halbert is optimistic about the overseas success of “Perfect Happiness,” saying that the thriller should be able to strike a chord with North American readers.
Zitwer said she expects to have the partially translated sample from Halbert no later than early October. Once she gets it, she went on to say that she will go and find U.S. and U.K. publishers to publish it.
“I think that 'Perfect Happiness' will be a hot book at the Frankfurt Book Fair, and once the English language deals are completed, I will then start selling it to the rest of the world,” she said in an email interview with The Korea Times.
Zitwer said that “Perfect Happiness” is a highly sought-after thriller all around the world.
“During the past few weeks and over the summer, I have had many zoom meetings with international publishers who are extremely interested in the book. 'Perfect Happiness' is the Number 1 book that everybody wants to read as soon as there is English material available,” she said. “This book is the most sought after and undeniably hot title I am handling now.”
Zitwer and her BJZ Agency have played a pivotal role behind Korean novels' global appeal, which began to materialize in the 2010s, following the success of several translated Korean novels, including Han Kang's “The Vegetarian” and Shin Kyung-sook's “Please Look After Mom.”
The New York-based agent has been playing a matchmaker role between several Korean authors ― Jeong, Shin Kyung-sook and Kim Un-su, to name a few ― and global readers. Jeong's “The Good Son” and “Seven Years of Darkness” were able to find global publishers, thanks to Zitwer.
Yun Ko-eun's “The Disaster Tourist” is Zitwer's latest discovery. She found it years ago and sold it around the world translated into English. The book won the CWA Dagger for Best Translation Novel of the Year and became the first Korean work to win the award in its 65 years of history.
A source familiar with overseas sales of Korean literary works said Zitwer is the “hidden hand” who has enabled several talented Korean authors to attract global attention.
Zitwer revealed her confidence in the path ahead for “Perfect Happiness,” noting that there already has been global attention on Jeong's new novel.
“I can say that everyone around the world is waiting very, very much with great anticipation for a partial of the translation in order to be able to acquire it. Her publisher in France, Philippe Picquier, who is publishing (Jeong's another book) 'Jini Jinny,' is reading the book right now with such delight,” she said. “In the United States and the United Kingdom, there will be an auction for this book and I anticipate several people bidding for it. I imagine there will be a bidding war.”