Author Hwang wants his book off the shelves after hoarding scandal

Celebrated author Hwang Sok-yong said he wants his best-selling novel “Yeowoolmoolsori” off the shelves after a TV program accused his publishing house, Jaeum & Moeum, of hoarding copies of the novel.

Jaeum & Moeum CEO Kang Byung-cheol has offered to resign from his position.

According to news reports, author Hwang said he was shocked and outraged to find out about the alleged hoarding and wants to cancel his deal with Jaeum & Moeum.

“I wrote the novel ‘Yeowoolmoolsori’ to celebrate the 50th anniversary of my literary career,” the author was quoted as saying. “The hoarding scandal is insulting to my career and it is extremely humiliating to have the book involved in such deeds.”

SBS’ current affairs show “In Depth 21” on Tuesday alleged that three novels published by Jaeum & Moeum ― Hwang’s “Yeowoolmoolsori,” Kim Yeon-su’s “If the Waves Belong to the Sea” and Baek Young-ok’s “Sucker for a Seven o’clock Breakfast Meeting” ― were stocked up by the publishing house for an ill purpose.

Jaeum & Moeum hoarded copies of the novels to make it appear as though many were sold, so they could be included on the best-seller list, the TV show claimed. Hwang’s “Yeowoolmoolsori” hit the best-selling list right after its release in November of last year, and remained high in the ranks through the rest of the year.

Author Kim Yeon-su also said he did not know anything about the alleged hoarding and was not involved with the publishing company’s allegedly unfair distribution of his books.

In a press release sent out on Wednesday, the publishing house’s CEO Kang said “he will not give any excuses” for the scandal. The publishing company will take Hwang’s novel off the shelves as the author has requested, he also said.

Jaeum & Moeum closed its Twitter account on Wednesday, the day after the SBS show was broadcast. The publishing house’s website server also went down on the same day.

By Claire Lee (dyc@heraldcorp.com)