Yet before it was even printed in South Korea, the once-abandoned manuscript had international publishers flocking to secure translation rights. "I'm so grateful that the book has now been published in more than 20 countries. Even more astonishingly, it also appeared on the Der Spiegel bestseller list in Germany," he told DW while attending the 2026 Frankfurt Book Fair.
For a debut novel by an unknown author, it was a massive success, securing publication in 15 languages, including English, German, Spanish and traditional Chinese. The Rainfall Market tells the story of a mysterious, hidden shop that only opens when it rains. In the shop, visitors can exchange their deepest unhappiness for a ticket to a brand-new destiny.
The plot revolves around Serin, a disheartened young girl who stumbles into the marketplace run by whimsical spirits, finding a warm, comforting space. "In fact, Serin's story is my story," author You said. "For a long time, I even wondered how wonderful it would be if I could sell my unhappiness and use the money to buy happiness." While writing the book, he was going through a difficult time himself.
"I had to care for my mother, who had been ill for a long time, and I had also been responsible for supporting my family financially for many years. Life felt incredibly heavy," he reflected. "But when I was writing, I could immerse myself in the world of the story and, even if only for a short while, forget about those circumstances.
That's why writing made me so happy. I truly enjoyed it." The idea of rain is inspired by his own life. "At that time, my circumstances felt as though it were raining constantly," You said.
The story draws heavily on traditional Korean folklore, serving as a quintessential "healing fiction" tale in which its young protagonist must weigh the true cost of seemingly perfect lives. "When I was writing, I wasn't consciously trying to write healing fiction. At the time, I didn't even really know that such a label existed." He initially planned to publish a book independently and started crowdfunding.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
