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Shin Kyung-sook

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Shin Kyung-sook is a very famous writer from South Korea.

She tells stories that many people around the world enjoy reading. Her books have been translated into many different languages. One of her most famous books is called "Please Look After Mom."

This book became a huge success. It sold millions of copies to readers. People in 19 different countries bought it. This includes places like the United States, China, and many countries in Europe and Asia.

Shin's life has been full of hard work and learning. She was born on January 12, 1963. She grew up in a village near Jeongeup. She was the oldest daughter in a family of six children.

When she was sixteen, she moved to the big city of Seoul. She lived there with her older brother. To pay for her life, she worked in an electronics plant. At the same time, she attended night school. Later, she studied creative writing at the Seoul Institute of the Arts.

Writing became her main way of sharing ideas. She made her first big debut in 1985.

This was with a short book called "Winter's Fable." She is part of a group of female writers called the 386 Generation. Shin has written many types of books. She writes long novels and short stories. She also writes non-fiction, which is writing about real things. Some of her other books include "Deep Sorrow" and "A Lone Room."

Many groups have given Shin awards for her skill.

In 2009, a French prize called the Prix de l'inaperçu honored her work. In 2012, she achieved something very special. She won the Man Asian Literary Prize for her book about a mother. She was the first woman to win this prize. She was also the only person from South Korea to win it. She has won many other prizes, like the Yi Sang Literary Award and the Ho-Am Prize.

Sometimes, even famous writers face hard times.

In June 2015, a report said she used words from another writer named Yukio Mishima. This is called plagiarism. Shin said she was sorry for this mistake. Because of this, her publisher took away a collection of her short stories. Even with these challenges, her work remains a big part of Korean literature. Her stories help people understand different lives and feelings.

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