Lee Young-do
South KoreaAbout
Lee Young-do (이영도, born 1972) is a South Korean novelist widely regarded as one of the pioneering figures of modern Korean fantasy literature. Born in Busan, he rose to prominence during the late 1990s, when fantasy fiction was gaining a growing readership in South Korea. His debut series, Dragon Raja, became a major success and helped establish fantasy as a popular literary genre in the country. Lee is best known for creating elaborate imaginary worlds populated by distinctive peoples, complex political systems, and morally ambiguous characters. His writing combines epic adventures with philosophical questions, imaginative humor, and reflections on human nature. His major works include Dragon Raja, Future Walker, Polaris Rhapsody, The Bird That Drinks Tears, and The Bird That Drinks Blood. The Bird That Drinks Tears, the series that includes The Heart of the Nhaga, is particularly celebrated for its original mythology and its exploration of cultural difference, prejudice, power, and mortality. Lee’s work has sold millions of copies in South Korea, earning him a reputation as one of the country’s most influential fantasy writers. The English translation of The Heart of the Nhaga by Anton Hur introduced international readers to one of the landmark works of Korean speculative fiction.
