Cheon Myeong-kwan is a South Korean novelist, screenwriter and director. Best known for his debut novel Whale (2004), he is considered a leading voice in contemporary Korean literature. Whale won the 10th Munhakdongne Novel Award and was shortlisted for the 2023 International Booker Prize. His other notable works include Modern Family (2010), later adapted into the film Boomerang Family (2013).
Cheon was born in 1964 in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. Before turning to fiction, he worked in the film industry, writing screenplays for films such as Gun and Gun (1995) and The Great Chef (1999). However, his projects remained unfinished, leading him to explore fiction writing. In 2003, he published his first short story, Frank and I, which won him the Munhakdongne New Writer Award. This success encouraged him to write novels full-time.
Whale, Cheon's first novel, was published in 2004. It tells the epic story of a rural girl who becomes an urban entrepreneur. The novel, which combines humour and tragedy, has been hailed as a modern classic in South Korea.
Cheon reflected on its success: "The publication of Whale changed my life, and Whale is still a driving force in my life. He wrote the novel in six months, explaining, "The first chapter covers the whole plot, so once it was done, the rest came quickly.
Cheon's later works have also been acclaimed. Modern Family, published in 2010, explores complex family dynamics through the story of a middle-aged man returning home after a failed career. His short story Cheerful Maid Marisa (2006) further demonstrated his talent for combining sharp wit with social commentary. My Uncle, Bruce Lee (2012) offers a moving portrayal of an uncle's life through his nephew's eyes.
Cheon credits translators with the universal reach of literature, saying, "If translators hadn't done their job, I would never have read Hemingway or Conan Doyle. He worked with translator Chi-Young Kim on the English edition of Whale, expressing his confidence in her skills and gratitude for her work.
Cheon's literary inspirations include Luo Guanzhong's Romance of the Three Kingdoms, John Updike's Rabbit, Run and Charles Bukowski's Post Office. He said these books have shaped his worldview and strengthened his resolve to persevere in difficult times.
Photo credit:thebookerprizes.com
Cheon was born in 1964 in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. Before turning to fiction, he worked in the film industry, writing screenplays for films such as Gun and Gun (1995) and The Great Chef (1999). However, his projects remained unfinished, leading him to explore fiction writing. In 2003, he published his first short story, Frank and I, which won him the Munhakdongne New Writer Award. This success encouraged him to write novels full-time.
Whale, Cheon's first novel, was published in 2004. It tells the epic story of a rural girl who becomes an urban entrepreneur. The novel, which combines humour and tragedy, has been hailed as a modern classic in South Korea.
Cheon reflected on its success: "The publication of Whale changed my life, and Whale is still a driving force in my life. He wrote the novel in six months, explaining, "The first chapter covers the whole plot, so once it was done, the rest came quickly.
Cheon's later works have also been acclaimed. Modern Family, published in 2010, explores complex family dynamics through the story of a middle-aged man returning home after a failed career. His short story Cheerful Maid Marisa (2006) further demonstrated his talent for combining sharp wit with social commentary. My Uncle, Bruce Lee (2012) offers a moving portrayal of an uncle's life through his nephew's eyes.
Cheon credits translators with the universal reach of literature, saying, "If translators hadn't done their job, I would never have read Hemingway or Conan Doyle. He worked with translator Chi-Young Kim on the English edition of Whale, expressing his confidence in her skills and gratitude for her work.
Cheon's literary inspirations include Luo Guanzhong's Romance of the Three Kingdoms, John Updike's Rabbit, Run and Charles Bukowski's Post Office. He said these books have shaped his worldview and strengthened his resolve to persevere in difficult times.
Photo credit:thebookerprizes.com
years of life: 1964 – present
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