KI HONG LEE CAST TO NARRATE YEN AUDIO’S DEBUT – SOLO LEVELING, VOL 1

New York, NY, June 21, 2021: Yen Audio has announced that their first digital audiobook release will be read by actor KI HONG LEE (Maze Runner, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt). This debut publication in the Hachette Audio/Yen Press collaboration will release July 13, 2021, online wherever audiobooks are sold.

SOLO LEVELING is a Korean novel series by Chugong. Originating as a webnovel that boasted over 3 million readers, it is the basis of one of the world’s bestselling webcomics, and the popularity of the franchise only continues to grow. The highly anticipated English-language release of the SOLO LEVELING comic in print in March 2021 stands out as North America’s biggest graphic novel series debut of the year, according to NPD BookScan. This soon-to-release audiobook edition, as interpreted by Ki Hong Lee, adds yet another format for existing fandom to devour and to engage newcomers in the adventures of Jinwoo, the “weakest hunter of all mankind.”

“As soon as I was introduced to SOLO LEVELING, I was hooked!” said Ki Hong Lee. “The story of Jinwoo rising from an E-rank hunter kept me engaged and wanting more. Very excited to be doing the audiobook of the first novel and to lend my voice to the character of Jinwoo!”

Ki Hong Lee is perhaps best known as lead runner ‘Minho’ in the MAZE RUNNER film franchise. Lee also appeared in THE STANFORD PRISON EXPERIMENT, winner of Sundance’s best screenplay and Alfred P. Sloan prizes, alongside Billy Crudup, Ezra Miller, and Olivia Thirlby, and Lee received rave reviews for his comedic work on the Netflix’s “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.” Raised in different cultures from Seoul to Auckland, Lee currently resides in Los Angeles, and is represented by 3 Arts Entertainment, Artists & Representatives, and United Talent Agency.

TOM MIS, Hachette Audio’s Executive Producer of this Yen Audio launch title, said: “I am thrilled to be working alongside Yen Press to bring these beloved series to audiobook listeners – starting with SOLO LEVELING, VOL. 1! For new fans, this is a great entry point into Yen’s novel offerings and the exciting storytelling that has captured readers’ imaginations around the world. Long-time fans will get to relive their favorite stories from the beginning with Yen Audio productions featuring some of the top voice and screen talent in the industry!”

YEN AUDIO ANTICIPATED 2021 RELEASES

Yen Audio productions will be available wherever downloadable audiobooks are sold, including Apple Books, Audible, Audiobooks.com, Downpour, Google Books, Libro.fm, Kobo, and more.

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Yen Press, LLC ­­is a joint venture between Kadokawa Corporation and Hachette Book Group. Founded in 2006, Yen Press has quickly risen to become one of the largest and most prolific publishers of manga and original graphic novels in the North American marketplace and a driving force in the introduction of light novels and Japanese literature to new readers through its Yen On imprint. For more information, visit www.yenpress.com.

Hachette Audio is a publisher of a variety of popular genres in audio form, which matches Hachette Book Group material with talented actors, composers, and producers to find its fullest expression. Their audiobooks are primarily based on material published in print and online by Grand Central Publishing; Little, Brown and Company; Hachette Nashville; Orbit; JIMMY Patterson; Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; and Perseus Books, and have been recognized for the highest quality of content and production with numerous GRAMMY, Audie, Listen Up! and Earphone awards. Unabridged and abridged titles are available on CD and as digital downloads.