US Journal Selects North Korean Novel 'Beot' as Best World Literature of 2020

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The novel "Beot" by North Korean writer Baek Nam-ryong has been selected as one of the best world literature works of the year by the American library magazine "Library Journal."

According to Voice of America (VOA) on the 4th, Library Journal announced on its website on the 30th of last month that the English version of Baek Nam-ryong's novel "Beot," titled "Friend," was chosen as one of the top 10 "Best World Literature of 2020" works.

The novel "Beot" was originally published in 1988, and in April of this year, Professor Immanuel Kim of George Washington University translated it into English and published it in the United States.

Library Journal evaluated the novel "Beot" as valuable because it offers a rare opportunity to glimpse the everyday life under a totalitarian regime. It was also published in a translated version in France in 2011.

The novel depicts the process of a female vocalist in a North Korean art troupe filing for divorce against her husband, portraying the suffering experienced by herself and her family, as well as the judge handling the case reflecting on his own married life. At the time of its release, the novel was the first to address divorce issues and gained great popularity, later being adapted into a drama titled "Gajeong" ("Family").

Writer Baek Nam-ryong is a representative North Korean novelist who has been active since the late 1980s in the 4·15 Literary Creation Group, which produces works about the activities of the supreme leader's family. In October, he also published a full-length novel titled "Buhung" ("Revival") covering the achievements of Chairman Kim Jong-un.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.