The points of issue
First English edition, Portobello Books, London, 2015 (translation of the Korean original). Issued in original boards with dust jacket; the verso carries the 'First published by Portobello Books 2015' statement. The US edition (Hogarth) followed in 2016. Winner of the 2016 Man Booker International Prize. Han Kang's 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature sharply raised demand.
Is this the true first?
The Korean original (Changbi, 2007) is the true first of the work. The Portobello 2015 hardback is the true first in English (Smith translation) and the prize-winning edition; the first English printing in jacket is the key collectible.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
The Hogarth US 2016 edition is distinguished by imprint and date. Later Portobello printings state additional impressions. No known book-club edition.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Vegetarian a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First English edition, Portobello Books, London, 2015 (translation of the Korean original). Issued in original boards with dust jacket; the verso carries the 'First published by Portobello Books 2015' statement. The US edition (Hogarth) followed in 2016. Winner of the 2016 Man Booker International Prize. Han Kang's 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature sharply raised demand.
How do I tell the first printing from a later one?
Check the copyright page for the publisher's first-printing convention and confirm the points above. The Korean original (Changbi, 2007) is the true first of the work. The Portobello 2015 hardback is the true first in English (Smith translation) and the prize-winning edition; the first English printing in jacket is the key collectible.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
The Hogarth US 2016 edition is distinguished by imprint and date. Later Portobello printings state additional impressions. No known book-club edition.
I have a first edition of The Vegetarian — what should I do?
If you're clearing books, New Mexico Literacy Project offers free pickup in Albuquerque, any condition, and makes sure collectible copies aren't lost. To sell, see the author's collecting guide. Either way, nothing valuable ends up in a landfill.