Turn down the K-pop and pay attention to K-healing

The rise of South Korean books about burnout has taken the world by storm.

- 

The country that gave the world popular bands such as BTS and hits such as Parasite and Squid Game is now exporting something slower-paced. The October publication of Marigold Mind Laundry in the US and Britain brings attention to the latest South Korean trend: the healing novel.

These books about burnout can be judged by their covers, which ooze wholesome peacefulness. Most depict an attractive building in a soothing colour, with nature artfully arranged outside.

In the stories, characters leave behind stress in search of something more meaningful. A high-flier sets up a bookshop; a TV writer quits her job and starts pottery classes. A connection to a new place brings connections to new people on their own quests for well-being.

From cats to kimchi, ice cream to coffee, "cosy healing elements" abound, says Ms Clare Richards, translator of The Healing Season Of Pottery, a popular novel in South Korea that is set for international release this autumn.