VOL.93/2026.04

 

Storyseller

A storyteller who delivers unique experiences to the public

 

2025.10.02

 

Just as words have power, a name that is spoken often should not only convey identity and vision but also carry a positive meaning. What if we employed homonyms, words with multiple meanings? Such a name, open to diverse interpretations depending on context and intent, also carries a sense of wit and delight. Storyseller (이야기장수; Iyagijangsu), founded by Lee Yeon-Sil, one of Korea’s most celebrated editors, fills its books with stories as diverse and engaging as the word jangsu (장수), a term that itself carries multiple meanings, including “seller.” More than just selling stories, Storyseller seeks to reach readers everywhere, sharing life stories that are ordinary yet one of a kind.

 

 

It’s a pleasure to have you with us on K-Book Trends. Could you introduce Storyseller to our international readers along with the meaning of its name?

 

Our company’s name comes from the idea that we do not merely sell printed books, but bring the voices of Korea’s finest storytellers wherever stories can reach. The Korean name Iyagijangsu combines two elements: iyagi (이야기; story) and jangsu (장수). “Jangsu” has three connotations: first, someone who sells stories; second, one who makes stories last; and third, a guardian who protects them. Iyagijangsu is also another term for jeongisu (전기수; 傳奇?; meaning “storyteller”), performers during the Joseon Dynasty who stood in marketplaces or on the streets, captivating crowds by orally sharing entertaining tales.

 

Storyseller began as an imprint of Munhakdongne Publishing before growing into an independent house. What motivated you to take on the challenge of starting a one-person publishing company within a major publisher, and what kinds of stories did you hope to create through it?

 

My wish was to continue creating stories and books by authors I deeply cherish, consistently and in my own way, well into the later years of my life. That meant creating my own brand and establishing my own company. As I mentioned, Iyagijangsu is another word for “jeongisu.” Just as those “storytellers” once gathered weary commoners in village squares with their tales, Storyseller strives to become a modern-day “storyteller.”
Storyseller makes books for the public rather than exclusively for experts or academics. We also have a special focus on the diverse lives of Korean women.

 

 

Storyseller makes books for the public rather than exclusively for experts or academics.
We also have a special focus on the diverse lives of Korean women.

 

 

The combination of “story (iyagi)” and the multifaceted word “seller (jangsu)” is intriguing. You once said you prefer being called “Ms. Seller (jangsunim)” over titles like “CEO.” Do many people actually call you that?

 

The nickname “Ms. Seller (jangsunim)” was first given to me by Kim Hana, author of Two Women Living Together, a book that we published. She began calling me “Ms. Seller” in the sense of being a brave “guardian of stories,” and now not only authors, but also readers use that name to call me. At Storyseller, it is not just me as CEO, our staff, too, are called “Mr. and Ms. Sellers.” We are regarded not as mere “publishing employees,” but as courageous “Mr. and Ms. Sellers” who protect stories and stand by authors; and we hope to continue working in that spirit with joy.

 

 

Just like a doljabi, the Korean first-birthday ritual where an infant’s choice is believed to foretell their future, a publisher’s first book can also set the course for its path ahead. The War Diary, which deals with the war in Ukraine, was Storyseller’s debut title and must carry special meaning. Why did you choose it as your very first publication?

 

At first, I had planned to debut with another Korean author. But, then, I heard that Ukrainian author Olga Grebennik had been recording the war from its first day in illustrated diary form and posting it on Instagram. When I was invited to be the first Korean publisher to release this book, a work that could not be published in either Ukraine or Russia, I had no choice but to revise all my plans and immediately begin preparing it for publication.
One of the images writer Olga Grebennik posted to Instagram Stories left a deep impression on me. It shows a child’s wrist with words written on the skin thrust out toward the world, as if pleading, as if begging for help. It was the very first day of the war in Ukraine. Hearing the first explosions, Grebennik wrote her daughter’s name, date of birth, and a contact number on the child’s wrist. In that moment, a mother hearing terrifying blasts, this is what she thought: “Ah, we could die. Without even a name. At any time.” The War Diary, leaning on the cry of that arm outstretched to the world, came together at an almost miraculous pace and was finished in just 20 days.

 

 

Since The War Diary, your books have been released at such close intervals that it almost seems as if you had stockpiled manuscripts and authors in advance. What is the secret behind bringing out so many titles in such a short time?

 

I had not prepared in advance to start a publishing house. I made the decision in January 2022, and with no contracts at all, I began publishing books that April. Although I now have staff, for quite a long time I worked entirely on my own, and even to me, the pace has felt almost unbelievable!
In my opinion, a publisher’s brand is ultimately defined by the books it produces and the authors it champions. That is why I wanted to build up a strong list quickly and to publish books that would embody Storyseller with sincerity. In these early years, I felt it was important to keep releasing titles that readers would continue to talk about. There is no hidden secret: only investing the time, sweat, and thought that each book demands.

 

The Cruel History of Smoking Women and Detective Park Mi-Ok tell the stories of women who fought their way into realms long considered the “preserve of men.” Through the figures of the “smoking women” and the “legendary policewoman,” what message did Storyseller hope to convey to readers?

 

Storyseller is committed to amplifying the voices of Korean women. In the past, Korea’s deeply patriarchal and conservative culture fostered pervasive gender discrimination. Yet, even within that environment, Korean women demonstrated remarkable talent and ability, stepping into the center of society. The Cruel History of Smoking Women and Detective Park Mi-Ok embody that history. The former exposes how, in earlier times, women who smoked were dismissed as “loose women,” while the latter powerfully overturns the scorn and ridicule faced by the first female detective and police chief in Korea. I think these stories gave women, standing at the heart of Korean culture and society, a sharp sense of catharsis. And, the stories of Korean women who continue to work, live, and spark revolutions in their own ways inspire people across gender and generations alike. I believe Korean women have both the power to lead their lives in new directions and the capacity to invent new paths. Storyseller seeks to capture these voices of Korean women in our books.

 

 

Han Dong-Il’s Latin Transcription Book and How to Write Life-Changing Emails encourage readers to write. Could you tell us why you place such emphasis on encouraging writing?

 

Those who have absorbed many good books often go on to become writers themselves. Good readers become good writers, and those who aspire to be good writers are, in turn, the most faithful readers. Writing and reading are bound together as one continuous link. Storyseller hopes to make books that inspire readers to write their own stories, and authors to long for new stories to read.
Han Dong-Il’s Latin Transcription Book was published in response to Korea’s recent craze for handwritten transcription. The book, compiled by Professor Han Dong-Il, a lawyer at the Vatican’s Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura (Rota Romana) and a Latin scholar, collected some of the world’s most beautiful Latin sentences. Readers can copy the original texts and their translations, experiencing the very breath of these masterpieces. Meanwhile, How to Write Life-Changing Emails shows how everyday writing, in this case, email, when done efficiently and beautifully, can transform both work and life. Readers and writers, after all, are never far apart.

 

 

Although Storyseller also publishes poetry, fiction, and graphic novels, non-fiction seems to be your true strength. You even described the essay as “a genre of ordinary people.” What criteria do you use when deciding which essays to publish?

 

Well, our foremost priority in essays is the presence of a truly unique story, an account that can only be written once in a lifetime, grounded in singular philosophies and experiences. While Storyseller does publish essays by well-known figures, we also decide to publish when discovering modest, often unseen lives that have never been spotlighted in the media. Conversely, even when it is an essay by an “ordinary” person, if it contains extraordinary experiences, or if the writer, while living an everyday life, shows the qualities of an unsung hero, we are honored to welcome them as authors.

 

 

We prefer essays that hold a life story that can be written but once in a lifetime,
shaped by philosophies and experiences that are utterly unique.

 

 

The cat series, such as This Kittie Will Grow Up Like This, Everyone But Me Has a Cat, and Cats Hid Their Talents, have become emblematic of Storyseller. With so many books that feature cats as subjects or protagonists out there, what do you think has made Storyseller’s cat series stand out and gain such popularity?

 

Storyseller has consistently published books by Lee Yong-Han, an author devoted to stray cats. He runs a “cat diner” that provides food for them, and he actually lives alongside these strays, recording their lives in words and photographs. So, his books are filled with rare images and stories, such ascats climbing trees, eating snow in the winter fields, or using a row of earthenware jars as if it were a cat tower. I am captivated by such stories, born from a long devotion to a single subject, and a life lived in its company, which reveal sights that others cannot see.

 

 

Since becoming an independent publishing house, is there a book that marked a turning point or carried special meaning for Storyseller?

 

Yes, it is Lee Ok-Sun’s Joyful Adult. It is an essay written by a 76-year-old woman who had lived as a homemaker, describing how she embraces her later years with joy in her own way. The book struck a chord with readers from young women to the elderly and has become Storyseller’s bestselling title to date. Remarkably, it was her debut work at age 76, and it went on to sweep major awards in 2024, winning “Rookie of the Year” and “Book of the Year” on Aladin, online bookstore, “Author of the Year” from The Chosun Daily, and “Book of the Year” from Yes24. Reading this remarkable debut, I realized how extraordinary, inspiring, and even entertaining the seemingly ordinary life of someone who has lived each day with resilience can be.

 

 

You seem quick to recognize and bring out the distinctive qualities of authors, whether it be a poetry collection by comedian Yang Se-Hyung, a picture book by artist Jung Eun-Hye, or the debut novel of writer Ysra(Lee Seula). Do you see yourself as having a special eye for trends or powers of observation across diverse fields? And, how do you build and maintain such strong relationships with your authors?

 

As I mentioned earlier, Storyseller focuses on books for the general public, we respond sensitively to current trends and to what captures the attention of younger generations. We try to look beyond books, paying attention to what excites people, and even to those who may not yet be writers but seem destined to become one. We also keep an eye on interviews and mass media to discover potential authors for Storyseller.
As for maintaining good relationships with authors, I don’t think there is a special secret, nor do I feel the need to force it. Because we only plan and publish books by authors we genuinely fall in love with, our editors naturally become their first fans and strongest supporters. In this way, Storyseller has evolved into an author-friendly publishing house that consistently thinks from the author’s perspective as their “first fan.” Genuine affection doesn’t require effort, yet it creates real strength. Storyseller moves forward with that affection at its core.

 

 

Your books, such as Two Women Living Together and The Age of Filiarch, are scheduled to be published in overseas markets. Could you share more about the progress of these exports and your concrete efforts to connect with international readers?

 

In the past, I thought that exporting the rights to Korean essays would be difficult, given the cultural and lifestyle differences between Korea and the West. However, recent Korean essayists have proven that stereotype wrong. Storyseller’s essayists write and live with humor, with revolutionary spirit, and with entirely new ways of life. Two Women Living Together was hailed as a milestone for K-essays when it sold its rights in a billion-won contract to HarperCollins in the US and Penguin Random House in the UK. The book has also been exported to Taiwan, China, and Japan. It is especially meaningful because it delivers the message that one does not need to marry in order to build a new form of “modular family,” a message that gave Korean women great courage and vision.
Ysra’s The Age of Filiarch was also introduced to the English-speaking markets through Hachette, and has since been exported to Japan, Taiwan, and Italy. At an event hosted by the Literature Translation Institute of Korea (LTI), Storyseller, together with author Ysra and her husband, translator Lee Hwon, personally presented sample manuscripts and synopses to overseas publishers. As a result, we received a pre-emptive offer without going through an agency. Seeing how the energy and uniqueness of a book created, written, and translated in such close collaboration could reach international publishers was a powerful experience. Beyond these, Storyseller’s other essays, such as Joyful Adult, Detective Park Mi-Ok, and Eun-Hye’s Hug, have also been actively exported.

 

* K-Book Trends Vol. 39 ? Go to the interview with writer Ysra

 

 

Whenever the rights to our authors’ books are exported, Storyseller makes every effort to visit the country with the author and meet local readers, even if the local publisher cannot manage to invite us. Simply hearing that a foreign edition has been released is one thing, but meeting readers face-to-face, through signings or book talks, offers a completely different level of impact and emotion. That is why we will once again take part in the “K-BOOK Festival” in Japan this year, following last year’s participation. Last year, we wore traditional hanbok and introduced Korean books to Japanese readers. This year, too, I look forward to presenting Korean essays in a special way together with our authors and returning home with those experiences.

 

We look forward to Storyseller’s continued journey as a publisher that both shares meaningful stories and safeguards them over time. Looking ahead, what goals do you hope to achieve, and what kinds of stories would you like to share with the world?

 

Even as print sales dwindle, stories are everywhere. Storyseller will remain committed to nurturing an ecosystem in which gifted storytellers can write with joy, and to bringing those stories wherever they are meant to go.

 

 

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