19 Free Books in Korean [PDF]

Looking for books in Korean? We've gathered 19 free Korean books in PDF, covering beginner reading, children's stories, short stories, classic novels, poetry, and theater.

These are books written in Korean, from Aesop's fables and Grimm's fairy tales to modern short stories by Hyeon Jin-geon and Kim Yu-jeong, classic poetry by Kim Sowol, and 1920s Korean theater. Whether you are just starting to read Korean or looking for a specific classic, there is something here for you.

Browse by genre or start with the beginners' section. Every book is free to read online or download as PDF.

Books in Korean for Beginners

This collection uses classic fairy tales to teach Korean. The stories go from shorter to longer, building reading confidence as you go.

Ideal for heritage learners and anyone working through a Korean course who wants real reading practice.

• #1

  동화로 배우는 한국어 (Korean Fairy Tales)

  

  A Korean language supplementary reader for heritage Korean schools, featuring classic fairy tales arranged from shorter to longer. Ideal for intermediate Korean language learners.

  재외동포교육진흥재단

  Format: PDF 96 pages 6.1 MB

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Korean Children's Books

Korean children's books are a natural way to read Korean with simple, real language. These are classic fables and fairy tales you probably already know, told in Korean.

Reading familiar stories removes the guesswork. You can focus on the language instead of the plot.

• #1

  동화집 그림 형제 (Grimms' Fairy Tales)

  

  The complete collection of Grimms' Fairy Tales in Korean translation, a beloved classic for children learning to read in Korean.

  Brothers Grimm

  Format: PDF 2074 pages 10.8 MB

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• #2

  토끼와 거북이 (The Tortoise and the Hare)

  

  A Korean-language retelling of the classic fable about patience and persistence. A short and easy read for Korean beginners and young readers.

  Aesop

  Format: PDF 2 pages 0.26 MB

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• #3

  사자와 생쥐 (The Lion and the Mouse)

  

  A Korean-language reading activity based on Aesop's fable of the lion and the mouse. Suitable for early Korean readers.

  Aesop

  Format: PDF 20 pages 0.87 MB

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• #4

  개미와 베짱이 (The Ant and the Grasshopper)

  

  A bilingual Korean-Japanese retelling of Aesop's fable about hard work and planning. Features simple vocabulary suitable for young learners.

  Aesop

  Format: PDF 2 pages 0.2 MB

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Korean Short Stories

These five short stories are landmarks of modern Korean fiction. They were written in the 1920s and 1930s, during Japanese colonial rule, and each one captures a different slice of Korean life.

Authors include Hyeon Jin-geon, Yi Sang, Kim Dong-in, Lee Hyo-seok, and Kim Yu-jeong. Each text is under 15 pages.

• #1

  운수 좋은 날 (A Lucky Day)

  

  A tragic modern short story by Hyeon Jin-geon about a rickshaw driver whose day of unexpected luck takes a heartbreaking turn. A landmark of modern Korean realist fiction.

  현진건 (Hyeon Jin-geon)

  Format: PDF 10 pages 0.22 MB

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• #2

  메밀꽃 필 무렵 (When Buckwheat Flowers Bloom)

  

  A lyrical short story set under a moonlit buckwheat field by Lee Hyo-seok, celebrated for its poetic prose and emotional beauty. A gem of modern Korean literature.

  이효석 (Lee Hyo-seok)

  Format: PDF 5 pages 0.09 MB

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• #3

  날개 (Wings)

  

  A groundbreaking modernist story by Yi Sang exploring alienation and the subconscious in 1930s colonial Korea. One of the most daring works in the Korean literary canon.

  이상 / 김해경 (Yi Sang)

  Format: PDF 12 pages 0.12 MB

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• #4

  감자 (Potatoes)

  

  A stark social realist story by Kim Dong-in following a woman's moral descent in the slums of colonial Korea. A cornerstone of modern Korean fiction.

  김동인 (Kim Dong-in)

  Format: PDF 6 pages 0.18 MB

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• #5

  동백꽃 (Camellia)

  

  A warm and humorous coming-of-age story by Kim Yu-jeong set in rural Korea, capturing the innocence of first love with vivid dialect and charm.

  김유정 (Kim Yu-jeong)

  Format: PDF 5 pages 0.22 MB

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Korean Novels

These two novels are cornerstones of classical Korean literature. Hong Gildong is the first novel written entirely in Hangul, and Chunhyang is Korea's most beloved love story.

Both are short texts, under 20 pages. They carry centuries of cultural significance in Korean literature.

• #1

  홍길동전 (Tale of Hong Gildong)

  

  The legendary story of Hong Gil-dong, Korea's Robin Hood and the first Korean novel written in hangul, featuring a folk hero who fights injustice and social inequality.

  Heo Gyun

  Format: PDF 17 pages 0.53 MB

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• #2

  춘향전 (The Tale of Chunhyang)

  

  Korea's most beloved classical love story, a timeless tale of loyalty, love, and social justice between Yi Mong-ryong and the courtesan's daughter Chunhyang.

  이명선 (Yi Myeong-seon)

  Format: PDF 11 pages 0.37 MB

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Korean Poetry

Korean poetry spans classical sijo and early modern lyric. This section brings together works by Kim Sowol, Jeong Ji-yong, and Seong Sam-mun, three voices central to the Korean lyric tradition.

These are short texts. Each poem or collection fits on 1 to 11 pages.

• #1

  유리창 (Windowpane)

  

  A celebrated modernist poem by Jeong Ji-yong, known for its vivid imagery and emotional depth. One of the most anthologized works in the Korean lyric tradition.

  Jeong Ji-yong

  Format: PDF 1 pages 0.61 MB

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• #2

  Korean Famous Poem

  

  A collection of Kim Sowol's most beloved Korean poems, including the iconic Azalea (진달래꽃). Essential reading for lovers of Korean lyric poetry.

  Kim Sowol

  Format: PDF 1 pages 0.02 MB

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• #3

  이 몸이 죽어가서

  

  A classical sijo poem by Seong Sam-mun, one of Korea's Six Martyred Ministers, expressing absolute loyalty even in death. A cornerstone of classical Korean verse.

  Seong Sam Mun

  Format: PDF 2 pages 0.13 MB

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• #4

  Korean Poetry Collection

  

  A curated collection of modern Korean poetry for language instruction, featuring major poets Kim Sowol, Han Yong-un, Shin Seok-jeong, and others.

  Kim Sowol, Yongwoon Han, Shin Seok Jeong, etc

  Format: PDF 11 pages 0.21 MB

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Korean Theater Books

This section focuses on Korean theater from the 1920s. All three plays are connected to Kim Woo-jin, a key figure in Korea's New Theater movement.

The collection includes a Korean translation of Bernard Shaw's Mrs. Warren's Profession, alongside two original dramas by Kim Woo-jin.

• #1

  워렌 부인의 직업 (Mrs. Warren's Profession)

  

  A Korean translation of Bernard Shaw's controversial play Mrs. Warren's Profession by Korean playwright Kim Woo-jin. A landmark of 1920s Korean modern theater.

  Bernard Shaw, trans. 김우진

  Format: PDF 34 pages 0.55 MB

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• #2

  산돼지 (The Wild Boar)

  

  An original Korean drama by playwright Kim Woo-jin depicting class conflict and social tension in a small Korean town during the 1920s colonial period.

  김우진 (Kim Woo-jin)

  Format: PDF 8 pages 0.24 MB

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• #3

  이영녀 (Lady Yi Young-nyeo)

  

  An early modern Korean drama by Kim Woo-jin exploring women's autonomy and social struggle in colonial Korea. One of the most significant plays of the Korean New Theater movement.

  김우진 (Kim Woo-jin)

  Format: PDF 31 pages 0.5 MB

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These 19 books cover Korean literature from classical novels to 1930s short stories, plus reading practice for beginners and young readers.

Looking for more? Visit our Language Learning PDF books section for books in Japanese, Mandarin, Arabic, and more.

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