In The Korea Times Chung Ah-young profiles Joseph Lee, "arguably the nation's [South Korea's] top literary agent", in Searching for literary bonanzas, noting that:
Before Lee, a small number of Korean literary works have been translated in other countries but commercial publications were rarely done. He has pioneered the export of Korean literature, promoting Korean authors unknown overseas.Reassuringly (?):
It is not easy to discover Korea's brilliant books being sold in foreign countries as he is a slow reader who carefully reads word by word. Thus, he set up several standards in choosing works palatable to the foreign audience.Most of the bigger-name titles to have made it to the US/UK recently -- including I Have the Right to Destroy Myself, Please Look After Mom, Tongue, and The Hen Who Dreamed She Could Fly -- have gone through his hands, and the article also helpfully lists some of the titles that will also be making their way into English.