This book, briefly examining the history, people, culture, customs, economy, sports and other aspects of Korea, attempts to present a concise overview of Korea's time-honored legacy, modern achievements and the current direction of the Republic's nation-building. Because of its up-to-date information, wide coverage and general practicality, visitors to Korea will find it very helpful. Korean Overseas Information Service is an organization of the Republic of Korea. 70 color photos with map.

A record of healing, shaping one's true self beyond societal expectations. “While shaping the clay, I learned how to comfort myself.” Instead of striving for the perfection defined by the world,I decided to live in the shape that feels most "true to myself."A record of the most honest and resilient self-discovery by ceramic artist Lee kyunghwan,embracing even my anxiety and wounds as an integral part of who I am. We live every day pretending to be okay. The obsession with living in the "normal person’s mold" that the world has set for us, without a single flaw, slowly wears us down. We feel that only perfection will make us worthy of love, and that if we fall apart, it’ll be irreversible. So, we keep pushing forward, always looking ahead. But at some point, we suddenly realize: When did I become so distant from myself?Shaping Time is a record of life written by Lee kyeonghwan, a ceramic artist, model, and influencer who actively engaged with the world. In this work, he confronts clay, a medium that doesn’t lie. If handled in haste, it twists easily, and anxious hands leave marks. The more he strived for perfection, the more it crumbled. But when he stopped, calmed his mind, and allowed himself to breathe, the clay slowly found its own form.Through pottery, he discovered truths about life: that clay hardens not because it avoids fire, but because it faces it; and that in moments of anxiety and trials we, too, find our own unique texture. This book is a record of his realization. Though the phrase "It's okay to not be perfect" may sound cliché, within his words, it transforms from mere comfort to lived experience. Just as he gazes at a dented cup and says, "This shape is better," here is a way of living where even flaws become part of the process. Like the surface of pottery, it might not shine, but each time you hold it, there’s warmth that touches the heart.Reading this book will not be about peeking into someone else's success story. Instead, it will be a time to quietly examine the anxieties within you. It will be an opportunity to step out of the molds set by society and practice breathing at your own pace. Just as he comforted himself by shaping clay, you, too, will find yourself quietly saying, “Ah, I get it now,” as you follow his words."What shape are you living in right now? Have you become too rigid, with no space for your heart to breathe? Just like clay needs water to come to life, you too can soften again. Enter the time of shaping yourself, just as you would shape clay. Your anxious days will slowly warm up, and you will eventually be shaped firmly into your true self."

This book shares poignant life lessons and words of wisdom as a cherished legacy passed down through generations. In this heartfelt narrative, the grandfather gently guides his beloved grandchildren on a journey of self-discovery and growth, revealing the profound values of fraternity, the joys of learning, the power of love, and the essence of a rich social life.Within these pages, a treasure trove of Korean tradition and culture awaits, delicately preserved by the author's unwavering dedication and desire to pass on his own hard-earned life lessons. As the world evolves, Grandfather's stories serve as a beacon, illuminating the path toward embracing heritage in a rapidly changing world.A tribute to the beauty of tradition and the enduring lessons of the past, this book resonates deeply with readers seeking connection, understanding, and the timeless wisdom that binds us all. Discover the richness of life's journey, beautifully crafted in the tender words of a loving grandfather for his cherished grandchildren and others in their generation. About the Translator Park is a freelance translator and former journalist who has worked at The Korea Herald and Arirang Radio. A graduate of the Medill School of Journalism, Media, and Integrated Marketing Communications at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., she earned her B.A. and M.A. degrees in Journalism in 2008 and 2010, respectively. She has interned at Women’s Health magazine and the United Nations headquarters in New York. She is the granddaughter of the author of this book. Table of Contents ForewordChapter 1 What Defines HumanityChapter 2 Honesty Becomes YouChapter 3 On ScholarshipChapter 4 On Training Your BodyChapter 5 Giving Back to SocietyChapter 6 Love and MarriageChapter 7 The Children's EducationChapter 8 MannersChapter 9 Home EconomicsChapter 10 Let's Live a Happy Life

On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Korean War, another inspiring story that sprouted in the midst of the war was published as a book. Joungwon Kim’s journey began when he encountered war correspondent Bill Boss from Canada, who opened his eyes to the world beyond Korea. With just $300, he embarked on his studies in the United States, ultimately earning degrees from Columbia University, Johns Hopkins SAIS, and Harvard Law School. This book vividly chronicles his encounters with key figures in academia, diplomacy, and law, painting a compelling picture of the times. Compiled posthumously by Memorial Association for Dr. Joungwon Kim in collaboration with the Aging Communication Center, this book is available in both Korean and English, with the English translation undertaken by his former student, Professor Timothy Atkinson of Seoul Foreign Language Graduate School, and reviewed by Charles Olmsted, former professor at Gimcheon University.A Trailblazing Life of “Firsts”Joungwon Kim’s life was marked by a series of historic firsts: the first Korean student at Phillips Exeter Academy (p.40), the first Korean student body president at Harvard University (p.64), the first Korean author published in the world-renowned journal Foreign Affairs (p.109), the key figure behind the introduction of Korean politicians Kim Young-sam and Kim Dae-jung to Washington’s political circles (pp.29, 115), and the first Korean lawyer to join a major Wall Street law firm (p.129). His journey across academia, diplomacy, and law offers a gripping narrative of ambition and service.A True Noblesse Oblige: A Legacy of GivingInspired by his grandfather, who donated his entire fortune to local schools, Joungwon Kim lived a life of generosity. While at Harvard, he refused financial support from his parents, arguing that his tuition-over 20 times Korea’s per capita GDP-should instead be used to fund scholarships for 50 to 100 other Korean students (p.62). Despite earning two doctorate degrees from the most prestigious U.S. institutions, he relied primarily on scholarships and considered it his duty to repay this debt to society. Without seeking publicity, he quietly dedicated himself to philanthropy throughout his life.What We Leave Behind and How We Are RememberedJoungwon Kim’s final chapter was guided by the Aging Communication Center’s Legacy Project, which preserves personal histories as cultural heritage. This initiative donates significant life artifacts to museums and libraries, ensuring that individual legacies contribute to the collective good. His personal belongings-90 boxes of household items-were donated to seven charitable organizations, while 682 books and historical records were gifted to institutions including the War Memorial of Korea, the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History, the Presidential Archives, the Yongsan History Museum, the National Assembly Library, the Korea National Diplomatic Academy Library, and the National Library of Korea. Proceeds from book sales will be allocated to scholarship funds.A Life Devoted to Korea and DemocracyThroughout his student years, Joungwon Kim displayed unwavering patriotism, hanging a large Korean flag (Taegeukgi) in his dormitory to remind himself of his homeland and family (p.48). Representing the United States at the World Festival of Youth and Students in Helsinki, he carried the Taegeukgi to promote Korea on the international stage (p.93). During Korea’s pro-democracy movement of the 1980s, his book Divided Korea became essential reading for social science students (p.164). Upon returning to Korea in 1987, he played a pivotal role in communicating the realities of Korean politics to the international community, effectively serving as the foreign press spokesperson for the United Democratic Movement (p.140). About Joungwon Alex Kim (1936-2023) Ph.D., J.D.Born in Seoul in 1936, Joungwon Kim graduated from Kyunggi High School before embarking on a journey to the United States, becoming the first Korean student admitted to Phillips Exeter Academy. While at Harvard University, he made history as the first Korean student body president and garnered national recognition when he penned a rebuttal to a Boston Globe article titled “Korea a Costly Den of Thieves,” instilling pride in post-war Koreans during a time of national uncertainty.He later earned a Ph.D. in Political Science from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and conducted research at prestigious institutions such as the Brookings Institution, the Washington Center of Foreign Policy Research, Columbia University’s Research Institute on Communist Affairs and Harvard Law School’s East Asian Legal Studies program. Transitioning into academia, he served as a professor at Rutgers University before pursuing a J.D. at Harvard Law School. As a lawyer at Mudge, Rose, Guthrie & Alexander, he earned the distinction of being the first Korean attorney on Wall Street.In 1987, he returned to the Republic of Korea to contribute to its democratization. He served as Deputy Director for International Affairs at the National Security Planning Agency (now the National Intelligence Service), Ambassador-at-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and President of the Korea Foundation. After retiring from public service, he continued his career as a university professor and international arbitrator at the International Court of Arbitration of the ICC. He passed away on January 25, 2023, and in accordance with his wishes, Memorial Association for Dr. Joungwon Kim was established. Table of Contents ForewordAcknowledgments Remembering My Dear Friend/ A True Gentleman of This Era/ More Remarkable Than Any Movie/ A Life Shining Like the Stars/ Letters to My Father Part 1: A Youth Full of Challenges and Dreams (1936-1953)The Child with Two NamesThe First Steps of Passion and Challenge Sparked by SportsLiving like a Refugee for the Second Time and Becoming a Fiery Orator/ Kim Young-sam: From Acquaintance to Family by MarriageStudy in the U.S. Made Possible by Canadian War Correspondent, Bill Boss Part 2: Spreading Wings of Passion in the Unknown (1954-1957)Leaping Towards a Dream: Phillips Exeter AcademyInsights from Living Between Two NationsChoosing My Own Middle Name: AlexThe First Korean Student Representative at Harvard UniversityDefending Korea's Honor with the PenPart 3: Cherished Connections That Became the Compass of Life (1958-1970)Meeting Carolyn and the Birth of My Daughter in New YorkA Korean Representing the U.S. at the World Festival of Youth and Students in Helsinki From Banker to Student: Pursuing Academia at Johns Hopkins UniversityDeepening the Study of International Politics with Professor Paul LinebargerPart 4: Bridging Korea and the World as a Scholar and Lawyer (1968-1986)Returning to Korea After 13 YearsProfessor Jerome Cohen at Harvard Law SchoolKim Dae-jung’s Washington DebutPresident Park Chung-hee’s Astounding FocusMy Book, Divided Korea, Rejected in My HomelandThe First Korean Attorney on Wall StreetPart 5: Crossing the Gates of Knowledge, Striving for Justice (1987-2017)Returning to Korea again for the Korean DemocratizationRenouncing U.S. Citizenship… Sincere support from Korean Americans in the U.S.Establishing Diplomatic Relations Between Korea and Palau“Ambassador Joungwon Kim Day” Proclaimed by the Mayor of PhiladelphiaMeeting President Roh Moo-hyun, a Visionary ThinkerServing as an Arbitrator at the International Court of ArbitrationLeading the Harvard Club of KoreaPart 6: Reflecting on Family at Life’s Twilight (2014-2023)Lessons Left by President Kim Young-samMy Grandfather’s Deep Dedication to EducationMy Father, Like the Sea; My Mother, Like SunshineCarolyn: The Mother of Modern Georgian LawMy Daughter and GrandchildrenEpilogue: My Dearest Dreams

What About KOREA?, a new book highlighting Homer B. Hurlburt, an unsung hero of the Korean independence movement The new book What About KOREA?, which explores the life and contributions of Homer B. Hulbert, a hidden hero of Korea’s independence movement and a pioneer of modern education in Korea, has been published after more than three years of work. This book is the culmination of decades of research by DongJin Kim, Chairman of The Hulbert Memorial Society, and offers readers in Korea, the United States, and around the world a chance to rediscover Hulbert’s dedicated efforts and legacy. Hulbert arrived in Korea in 1886 as an instructor at Royal College (Yukyeonggongwon), the first state-run modern school. He quickly became a key advocate for Korean sovereignty, opposing Japanese imperialism and promoting the use of Hangeul. He authored the first modern Korean textbook (Saminpilji, 1891) and actively supported Korean independence efforts, including serving as a secret envoy to the U.S. in 1905 to protest Japan’s forced protectorate over Korea. Even after his expulsion from Korea in 1907, Hulbert continued advocating for Korea’s independence in the United States. In 1919, after Korea’s March First Manse Uprising, he submitted a statement titled “What About Korea?” to the U.S. Senate, urging support for Korea’s independence. In 1949, Hulbert was invited back to Korea but passed away shortly after his arrival. He was buried in Yanghwajin, Seoul, fulfilling his wish: “I would rather be buried in Korea than in Westminster Abbey.” Recognized posthumously, Hulbert received the Order of Merit for National Foundation (1950) and the Order of Merit for Culture and Art-Gold (2014) from the Korean government. His legacy continues to inspire both Koreans and readers worldwide. This book will provide deep insights for readers interested in Korean modern history and international relations, while also serving as an important document that sheds new light on the contributions of foreigners to the Korea’s modernization and independence movement. About Homer Bezaleel Hulbert (1863–1949) Hulbert was born in 1863 in Vermont, USA, during the height of the American Civil War. He was the second son among three sons and three daughters, born to a father who was a college president and pastor and a mother who was a descendant of the founder of Dartmouth College. After graduating from Dartmouth College and while attending a theological seminary, Hulbert answered King Gojong’s call and set foot in Jemulpo in the summer of 1886 to become Joseon’s first modern teacher. Upon arriving in Joseon, Hulbert became fascinated by the Korean alphabet, Hangeul, and worked to revive Hunminjeongeum. He deeply appreciated the history and culture of the Korean people, even more so than many Koreans themselves, and laid the foundation for modern education under the belief that “education is the only way to survive.” Additionally, as a civil rights activist and the emperor’s secret envoy, he fought against Japan’s imperialist aggression. However, in 1907, he was forced to return to the United States due to Japanese persecution. Even in the U.S., he spent 38 years giving lectures, interviews, and writing articles to expose Japan’s illegal actions and appeal for Korea’s independence. In 1949, after 40 years, Hulbert returned to Korea as a state guest, but he passed away just a week after his arrival. He now rests in Yanghwajin Cemetery, along the banks of the Hangang River. About the Author DongJin Kim Chairman of The Hulbert Memorial Society Former Managing Director at JPMorganChase In 1999, during his tenure as Managing Director and Country Manager of Chase Manhattan Bank, Korea—a predecessor of JPMorganChase—DongJin Kim, along with esteemed colleagues, founded The Hulbert Memorial Society. Under his visionary leadership, the Society has spearheaded numerous initiatives to preserve and promote Homer B. Hulbert’s legacy. Kim’s dedication was instrumental in securing Hulbert’s posthumous honors, including the Order of Merit for Culture and Art-Gold from the Korean government. Table of Contents Advancing Hulbert’s Legacy into the Future! ㆍ xiiAcknowledgments ㆍ xviHulbert’s Works, Letters, and Newspaper Articles ㆍ xviiiNotes for Readers ㆍ xxChapter 1 Hulbert’s Fateful Karma with Joseon Ahn Junggeun: “Koreans must not forget Hulbert even for a single day” ㆍ 3Hulbert’s Heart Stirs at the Word “Korea” ㆍ 6The Hulbert Family Motto: “Character is more fundamental than victory” ㆍ 14Affection for Korea Sprouts at Yukyeonggongwon (Royal College) ㆍ 19Korea’s First Literary Diplomat ㆍ 40A Pioneer in Advocating for the Use of Hangeul (Korean Alphabet) ㆍ 48Saminpilji (사민필지): A World Gazetteer and the First Textbook Written in Hangeul ㆍ 58Chapter 2 Missionary, Educator, and JournalistThe Ideal Christian ㆍ 71A Central Figure in the Founding of the YMCA in Korea ㆍ 80Hulbert’s Fury: The Japanese Assassination of the Joseon Queen ㆍ 83Pioneering Korea’s Modern Education ㆍ 93Education: The Only Means for Survival ㆍ 104A Dedicated Journalist ㆍ 113Combating Japanese Abuses to Curb Social Decay ㆍ 119Appealing to the Powers, Not for Intervention ㆍ 123Chapter 3 A Pioneer of Korean StudiesAn Extraordinary Writer ㆍ 131A True Icon of Hangeul Devotion ㆍ 134A Pioneer in the Study of Spoken Korean ㆍ 149Illuminating Korean Literature through Nature ㆍ 162The First Western Notation of “Arirang” ㆍ 172Introducing Korea’s Cultural Heritage to the World ㆍ 181An Unparalleled Historian ㆍ 194The History of Korea: An Immortal Work on Korean History ㆍ 202The Passing of Korea: A Labor of Love for Korea ㆍ 214Chapter 4 Hulbert’s Destiny: A 50-Year Journey in the Korean Independence MovementHulbert: The Conscience of History beyond Race and Borders ㆍ 225The Revival of Toyotomi’s “Occupy Joseon Project” after 300 Years ㆍ 229The Emperor’s Special Envoy to Washington: Preventing the Japanese Protectorate in 1905 ㆍ 237Hulbert’s Frustrations with the Roosevelt Administration ㆍ 247Civil Rights Activist ㆍ 263Efforts to Reclaim a Korean Treasure Stolen by a Japanese Minister ㆍ 270The Emperor’s Special Envoy to the 1907 Hague Peace Conference ㆍ 276Chapter 5 38 Years of a Korean Independence Movement in the United StatesHulbert’s Solitary Fight for Korean Independence in America ㆍ 299A Lonely Voice for Korea among Pro-Japanese Intellectuals ㆍ 305Return to Korea in 1909: Leaving Behind a Last Will and Testament ㆍ 312“I Stand for Korean People, Now and Always … Until I Die” ㆍ 318Roosevelt Acknowledges His Complicity in Japan’s Occupation of Korea ㆍ 327The March First Manse (만세) Uprising: A God-Given Right for Koreans ㆍ 336“What About Korea?” A Resolute Appeal to the U.S. Senate ㆍ 344The Love of Korean People: My Most Precious Possession ㆍ 355Hulbert’s Views on Japan and Gojong ㆍ 366Chapter 6 The Emperor’s Deposit-Stolen by the Japanese-Must Be Returned to KoreaThe Third Calling from Emperor Gojong ㆍ 373Hulbert’s Struggle to Recover the Stolen Deposit ㆍ 387Rectify a Past Injustice by Recovering the Stolen Deposit ㆍ 392Chapter 7 “I would rather be buried in Korea than in Westminster Abbey”Returned to Korea after 40 Years ㆍ 397Hulbert: Who Loved Korea More Than Koreans Themselves ㆍ 414Homer Hulbert’s Spirit Lives On ㆍ 422Hulbert’s Works ㆍ 431The Life of Homer Bezaleel Hulbert ㆍ 433Chronicle of Korea’s Enlightenment Period (1864-1910) ㆍ 438References ㆍ 444Index ㆍ 449About the Author ㆍ 460The Hulbert Memorial Society ㆍ 462

“A love story between friends. It is so well written. [Kyung-sook Shin] has this use of language that is just beautiful and poetic. It’s a great book if you’re looking to escape.” —Chelsea Handler, #1 New York Times bestselling authorHow friendship, European literature, and a charismatic professor defy war, oppression, and the absurd   Set in 1980s South Korea amid the tremors of political revolution, I’ll Be Right There follows Jung Yoon, a highly literate, twenty-something woman, as she recounts her tragic personal history as well as those of her three intimate college friends. When Yoon receives a distressing phone call from her ex-boyfriend after eight years of separation, memories of a tumultuous youth begin to resurface, forcing her to re-live the most intense period of her life. With profound intellectual and emotional insight, she revisits the death of her beloved mother, the strong bond with her now-dying former college professor, the excitement of her first love, and the friendships forged out of a shared sense of isolation and grief.   Yoon’s formative experiences, which highlight both the fragility and force of personal connection in an era of absolute uncertainty, become immediately palpable. Shin makes the foreign and esoteric utterly familiar: her use of European literature as an interpreter of emotion and experience bridges any gaps between East and West. Love, friendship, and solitude are the same everywhere, as this book makes poignantly clear.

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • WINNER OF THE MAN ASIAN LITERARY PRIZEWhen sixty-nine-year-old So-nyo is separated from her husband among the crowds of the Seoul subway station, her family begins a desperate search to find her. Yet as long-held secrets and private sorrows begin to reveal themselves, they are forced to wonder: how well did they actually know the woman they called Mom?

Amid a violent student uprising in South Korea, a young boy named Dong-ho is shockingly killed. The story of this tragic episode unfolds in a sequence of interconnected chapters as the victims and the bereaved encounter suppression, denial, and the echoing agony of the massacre. From Dong-ho’s best friend who meets his own fateful end; to an editor struggling against censorship; to a prisoner and a factory worker, each suffering from traumatic memories; and to Dong-ho's own grief-stricken mother; and through their collective heartbreak and acts of hope is the tale of a brutalized people in search of a voice. An award-winning, controversial bestseller, Human Acts is a timeless, pointillist portrait of an historic event with reverberations still being felt today, by turns tracing the harsh reality of oppression and the resounding, extraordinary poetry of humanity. “Compulsively readable, universally relevant, and deeply resonant . . . in equal parts beautiful and urgent.”—The New York Times Book Review Shortlisted for the International Dublin Literary Award • One of the Best Books of the Year: The Atlantic, San Francisco Chronicle, NPR, HuffPost, Medium, Library Journal

Before the nightmares began, Yeong-hye and her husband lived an ordinary, controlled life. But the dreams—invasive images of blood and brutality—torture her, driving Yeong-hye to purge her mind and renounce eating meat altogether. It’s a small act of independence, but it interrupts her marriage and sets into motion an increasingly grotesque chain of events at home. As her husband, her brother-in-law and sister each fight to reassert their control, Yeong-hye obsessively defends the choice that’s become sacred to her. Soon their attempts turn desperate, subjecting first her mind, and then her body, to ever more intrusive and perverse violations, sending Yeong-hye spiraling into a dangerous, bizarre estrangement, not only from those closest to her, but also from herself.  Celebrated by critics around the world, The Vegetarian is a darkly allegorical, Kafka-esque tale of power, obsession, and one woman’s struggle to break free from the violence both without and within her. “Ferocious.”—The New York Times Book Review (Ten Best Books of the Year)“Both terrifying and terrific.”—Lauren Groff“Provocative [and] shocking.”—The Washington Post

An Ethnic Korean Woman in Japan Struggles to Find Her IdentityWhen she utters “our country,” which does she mean, Korea or Japan? Lee Yang-ji’s short stories “Yuhi” and “Nabi T’aryǒng” portray the agony and inner conflict of Zainichi (ethnic Koreans residing in Japan) who find themselves considered strangers both in Korea and Japan.“Yuhi” features the eponymous protagonist going to Korea in search of her roots as does Aiko, the main character of “Nabi T’aryǒng.” Both women grow frustrated after realizing that they are considered marginal persons who can be neither Korean nor Japanese.The two works vividly show traces of the writer’s agonizing search for her identity and feelings of ambivalence as a second-generation Zainichi. Through these autobiographical stories, she uses her personal problems to brilliantly explore the realm of ethnic identity and language.Included WorksNabi T’aryŏng (Nabi taryon, 1982)The Diver (Kazukime, 1983)My Brother, Gone Before Me (Anigoze, 1983)Yuhi (Yuhi, 1988)About the AuthorLee Yangji (Yoshie Tanaka, 1955–1992)A second-generation Zainichi (ethnic Korean residing in Japan) novelist, artist, and folk dancer, Lee Yangji used writing as one of many creative outlets to explore her experience as an outsider in both Japanese and Korean society. She studied in Korean literature and performance at Waseda University in Tokyo and later at Seoul National University, where she wrote “Nabi T’aryǒng.” In 1989, she became the first Zainichi woman to receive the Akutagawa Prize "Yuhi," the last novel she published during her lifetime.In 1992, Lee died at age 37 from acute myocarditis, and her final novel Ishi no koe was published posthumously. To mark the 30th year of her passing, Yangji Lee Selection and Kotoba no Tsue: Lee Yangji Essay Collection were published in 2022.About the TranslatorCindi Textor is assistant professor of Japanese literature and culture at the University of Utah. She has translated Zainichi author Kim Sok-pom’s The Curious Tale of Mandogi’s Ghost (2010) and her papers have appeared in the publications positions: asia critique, The Journal of Korean Studies, and The Asia-Pacific Journal: Japan Focus.Lee Soo Mi earned a PhD in Japanese literature from the University of California at Berkeley. A third-generation Zainichi raised primarily by her illiterate grandparents, who often told her stories of their struggle and survival in Japan, she has researched writers and artists from historically marginalized communities with a focus on Zainichi women and their autobiographical expressions of struggle, resistance, and empowerment.ContentsYuhiThe DiverMy Brother, Gone Before MeNabi T’aryǒng: A Mourning Butterfly

Kim Tal-su (1920–1997) was one of the first and leading writers of the Korean Diaspora in 20th-century Japan. The stories in this collection include the critically acclaimed novella “The Trial of Pak Tal” and cover a range of periods and topics like the struggles of Koreans in wartime Japan, the Korean War and its aftermath, and the layers of Japanese and Korean history on the island of Tsushima. Full of the writer’s unique blend of humor and pathos, these stories offer a moving and multifaceted look at how Koreans fought to find their voice and identity in Japanese culture and society.Publisher’s ReviewThe so-called Zainichi Korean diaspora in Japan is a large and diverse community with a long and painful history that began with the Japanese colonization of Korea (1910-1945). One of the most prolific and influential Zainichi Korean writers in Japan, Kim Tal-su (1920-1997) left behind a wide body of work depicting the many social and psychological dilemmas that Zainichi Koreans face, such as passing and outing, racism and discrimination, and ethnic identity and political affiliation. This collection, which contains some of Kim’s most important shorter works, showcases his vitality and versatility as a writer. Together, these stories offer new perspectives on Zainichi Korean identity and agency and new horizons for rethinking Japanese and Korean history beyond the borders of the nation-state.Beginning with “Kindred Spirits,” a lively look at Koreans passing as Japanese and trespassing as bootleggers in wartime Japan, this collection includes the critically acclaimed novella “The Trial of Pak Tal,” a political satire about the Korean War (and the war within the Zainichi Korean self) through the eyes of a farmhand-turned-freedom fighter named Pak Tal and an equally sly and subversive narrator, and the historical travelogue “All the Way to Tsushima,” which follows Kim and his compatriots to the island of Tsushima, located between Japan and Korea, on a sentimental search for their lost homeland. The collection ends with two of Kim’s earliest works, “One’s Place” and “Memories of My Grandmother,” which explore the place of Zainichi Koreans in Japanese society and their lingering sense of loss and displacement.Sensitively and skillfully translated from the Japanese by Christopher D. Scott, with a detailed introduction to Kim’s life and literary career, “The Trial of Pak Tal and Other Stories” is a revolutionary work of Zainichi Korean literature and a landmark of Korean diasporic literature. Bridging the histories of Japan, the Korean Peninsula, and the United States—much like Min Jin Lee’s 2017 bestselling novel Pachinko—this collection brings long overdue recognition to a community that, as Lee writes at the opening of her novel, “history has failed.” As this translation shows, however, history has not failed Kim; it has redeemed him. Like Pak Tal in “The Trial of Pak Tal,” Kim has come back, albeit in English this time. And he has some unforgettable stories to tell.About the AuthorKim Tal-suA leading Zainichi (ethnic Korean residing in Japan) writer whose fiction charted the inner lives of Koreans during and after the Japanese occupation, Kim was born in Changwon, Gyeongsangnam-do, in 1920 and immigrated to Japan at age 10 along with family. He attended elementary school there but dropped out after being bullied by his Japanese classmates. Undaunted, he began learning Japanese and reading Japanese literature while performing menial jobs like factory worker, public bath attendant, and garbage collector. After graduating from Nihon University College of Art, he began working in 1943 as a reporter for the daily Gyeongseong Ilbo (Keijō Nippō) in Seoul.In 1947, Kim published his first novel Kōei no machi (City of Descendants). His works were hailed for eloquently and evocatively capturing the dilemmas faced by Koreans under Japanese colonial rule and the subsequent sorrow and resentment felt by his compatriots. His other major works include the novel Genkai nada (The Genkai Sea, 1953), the novella “The Trial of Pak Tal” (1958), and the 12-volume Nihon no naka no Chōsen bunka (Korean Culture in Japan, 1970–1991), which focuses on ancient relations between Korea and Japan.About the TranslatorChristopher D. Scott teaches Japanese and Japanese culture at The Nueva School in San Mateo, California. He received his bachelor’s degree from Princeton University and his master’s and PhD from Stanford University. His other published translations from Japanese to English include Kim Sa-ryang’s “Into the Light,” Levy Hideo’s A Room Where the Star-Spangled Banner Cannot Be Heard, and Shu Ejima’s Quick Draw.ContentsAcknowledgmentsA Note on Names and RomanizationTranslator’s IntroductionKindred SpiritsThe Trial of Pak TalAll the Way to TsushimaOne's PlacesMemories of My Grandmother

Chunja’s Nanjing explores in depth the tragic events of the 1930s dubbed the “Tragedy in Deer Valley” in Jiandao, a historical border region along the north bank of the Tumen River in China's Jilin Province with many ethnic Koreans, in the beginning of the novel and the “Rape of Nanjing” in Nanjing, China, at the end. The novel also discusses the plight of women forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese imperial army before and after World War II.Though a novel, this book intertwines the truth and pain of the past to create a story based on historical materials such as statements from Chinese women forced into sexual slavery by Japan, archival documents about the relevant incidents, and a variety of reports.Publisher’s ReviewHow would you feel if you found out that your grandmother is a surviving “comfort woman”? When Jonghyeok, a Korean-Chinese student studying in Japan, falls in love with a Japanese girl named Haruko, he decides to introduce her to his grandmother, Chunja. Yet, upon his arrival at the small village in Yanbian, China, he finds his grandmother surrounded by reporters. He learns that she used to be a “comfort woman” who had been forced into sexual slavery for Japanese troops during World War II. Through Chunja’s retelling of her past experiences, Chunja’s Nanjing delineates violent historical injustices perpetrated by Japan against Koreans and Chinese in the border region of Gando (Jiandao) and in Nanjing.Yet, rather than simply dwelling on the tragic past, the book brings the issue of “comfort women” to the present through Jonghyeok and Haruko—the grandson of a Korean comfort woman and the granddaughter of a Japanese soldier who served in China during the war. It is through these two young people that the author offers a glimpse of hope for reflection and reconciliation as they come to understand each other’s pain and search for a way to move forward.Chunja’s Nanjing is an artistic journey that takes the readers through a powerful testimony about the appalling treatment of Korean “comfort women” during the war and the possibility of a new peace and resolution in Northeast Asia.About the AuthorKim HyeokBorn in Longjing in China's Jilin Province in 1965, Kim Hyeok made his literary debut in 1985 with the short stories “Descendants of Pygmy” and “Noah’s Ark.” A former reporter for major newspapers such as The Yanbian Daily, he has published an array of works including the novels Pox Pustules Bloom in the Shade, Women on Juzi Street, Poet, Empress Wanrong, Chunja’s Nanjing, and Silent Age; the short story collections To Kill a Genius and The Bridge of the Other Shore; a compilation of serialized columns titled The Yun Dong-ju Code; biographies such as Standing on the Silk Road: A Biography of Han Nak-yeon, and Salt Flowers: A Biography of Kang Kyeong-ae; and the full-length reportages Tall Pine Tree in Yisongting and Blue Water of the Hailan River and Reading Chinese-Koreans Through Films.A member of the China Writers Association, Kim founded the Yun Dong-ju Research Society of Longjing after returning to his hometown and is now president of the organization. He is also working on the 12-part epic novel Garam, which is set in Northeast Asia over a period of 100 years.About the TranslatorStella Kim is a Korean-American translator and interpreter who won the 2014 Literature Translation Institute Korea Award for Aspiring Translators and the 2016 Korea Times’ Modern Korean Literature Translation Award. She has translated works like Launch Something! by Bae Myung-hoon (Honford Star, 2022) and Painter of the Wind by Lee Jung-myung (co-translated, Harriett Press, 2023), as well as short stories and excerpts published in ASIA, Asia Literary Review, Asymptote Journal, Korean Literature Now, and other publications.ContentsPart IBotchan Karakuri ClockA Testimony in SpringA Tragedy in Deer ValleyFlower GraveA Hymn on a Moonlit NightPart IIInto the TunnelFactory Girl RecruitmentKhaki-Colored TerrorA Party in HellThe Fiery Lake of Burning SulfurA Pipe That Couldn’t Be PlayedBlood RainPart IIIHaruko’s NanjingCats Cry for SpringMonochrome MemoriesA Sturdy PipeOur TimeEndnotes

Central to the Korean pansori musical storytelling tradition is Chunhyangga, an eighteenth-century love story involving the romance between Yi Mongryong, heir to a noble family, and Chunhyang, daughter of a courtesan. In Chunhyang, novelist Jin Renshun reimagines that romance, challenging its premises and taking it in a radically new direction.Chunhyang is the story of a mother and a daughter’s quests for independence and self-worth in a world where women are too often confined and devalued. Beautifully told, blending lyricism with humor, Chunhyang introduces us to a memorable cast of characters—from powerful officials to orphaned children—and carries us toward a dramatic and poignant conclusion.SynopsisChunhyang’s mother is the daughter of an apothecary, and beautiful beyond compare. While young, she falls in love with a noble official who spends a huge sum of money to build her a house, which comes to be known as Attar Lodge. There Chunhyang is born, and there her mother acquires fame as Lady Hyang, praised by hack writers and pansori (solo lyrical opera) singers alike.Over time, Attar Lodge becomes the home to a number of other underprivileged people: an abandoned woman, an impoverished gentleman, the son of a singsong girl, the daughter of a thief. Despite their low social status, they enjoy life to its fullest. Their stories attract many visitors, such as lustful businessmen, young men yearning for fame, and arrogant nobles. Yi Mongryong, son of a prominent family, meets Chunhyang by chance at the Dano Festival and is immediately smitten. He mistakes her for Lady Hyang and goes to her mother’s house at midnight. But Mongryong is no different from other men before him: his love interest is no more than a fleeting fancy, for he has other ambitions. Lady Hyang uses hack writers and pansori singers to exaggerate and spread the love story of Chunhyang and Mongryong, turning it into a classic legend. The new Namwon magistrate, Byeon Hakdo, tries to force Chunhyang to marry him. Lady Hyang comes up with a dramatic idea to prevent that from happening, and Chunhyang also makes a decision that is totally different from the one we know in the classic Chunhyangga.About the AuthorJin RenshunHer works include the novel Chunhyang, the short story and novella collections Peach Blossom, The Pine Town, and In Commemoration of My Friend Jin Zhi, and the essay collections White as a Lily and Sentient Beings. She has won many honors including the Chunshen Original Literary Award, Junma Literary Awards for Ethnic Minority Writers, Chuang Chung-Wen Literary Award, China Writers Publishing Group Award, Lin Jinlan Short Story Award, People’s Literature Short Story Award, Short Story Award of Selected Stories, Novel Monthly Hundred Flowers Award, and October Literature Award. Her works have been translated into English, Korean, Arabic, Japanese, Russian, German, and Mongolian. She is a member of the presidium of the China Writers Association and chair of the Jilin Writers Association.About the TranslatorAllan H. Barr is a scholar of Ming and Qing literature and prominent translator of contemporary Chinese writing. His published translations include Yu Hua’s China in Ten Words, Han Han’s This Generation, and Ai Weiwei’s 1000 Years of Joys and Sorrows. He is a professor of Chinese at Pomona College in Claremont, California.ContentsPart ILady HyangThe Hallim Vice CommissionerAttar LodgeChunhyangLady HyangGimsuSodanMr. BongjuChunhyangThe Hallim Vice Commissioner’s WidowThe Palace Music MasterGimsu and IMr. BongjuPart IIEungilSodan and MeYi MongryongChunhyangYi MongryongChunhyangThe New PrefectByeon HakdoThe Pansori PerformerOksu the ScholarGimsu, or SapienceLady HyangChunhyang

It is Osaka in the 1930s. Kim Shunpei, a migrant from Jeju Island, works at a fish cake factory and is widely feared for his physical strength and brutality. He moves through life in the only way he knows how: by terrorizing those around him.A bestseller in Japan, this harrowing, kaleidoscopic novel portrays the violent and eventful life of a flawed man modeled after the author's own father.Publisher’s ReviewBlood and Bones, originally published in Japanese in 1998, follows a half-century of the violent, eventful life of migrant worker Kim Shunpei in Osaka. Feared by coworkers, bosses, neighbors, family members, and gangs alike, he moves through life in the only way he knows how: by terrorizing those around him. Yang Seok-il's vivid portrait of Kim Shunpei is modeled after the life of his own father. Built from intimate memories of struggle in the gritty underbelly of Osaka, Yang's harrowing, kaleidoscopic novel depicts how patriarchal violence and restricted life chances can wrack a minority Korean community both during and after Japan's empire.About the AuthorYang Seok-il (b. 1936- )Born in Osaka, Japan, to a couple from Korea’s Jeju Island who settled in Japan during the Japanese occupation of the Korean Peninsula, Yang, whose Japanese name is Yan Sogiru, graduated from Osaka Prefectural Kozu High School and did odd jobs including driving a taxi after a business he pursued failed. His 1980s non-fiction work Takushi doraiba nisshi (Taxi Driver Diary), based on his experience as a cabbie, was made into the 1993 critically acclaimed film All under the Moon. He also won the 1998 Yamamoto Shugoro Prize of Japan for his semi-autobiographical novel Blood and Bones, which was also made into a film released in 2004.About the TranslatorAdhy Kim is a writer, scholar, and teacher of Asian and Asian American literature and culture.ContentsBlood and Bones 1Chapter 1Chapter 2Chapter 3Chapter 4Chapter 5Chapter 6Chapter 7Chapter 8Chapter 9Chapter 10Chapter 11Chapter 12Chapter 13

It is Osaka in the 1930s. Kim Shunpei, a migrant from Jeju Island, works at a fish cake factory and is widely feared for his physical strength and brutality. He moves through life in the only way he knows how: by terrorizing those around him.A bestseller in Japan, this harrowing, kaleidoscopic novel portrays the violent and eventful life of a flawed man modeled after the author's own father.Publisher’s ReviewBlood and Bones, originally published in Japanese in 1998, follows a half-century of the violent, eventful life of migrant worker Kim Shunpei in Osaka. Feared by coworkers, bosses, neighbors, family members, and gangs alike, he moves through life in the only way he knows how: by terrorizing those around him. Yang Seok-il's vivid portrait of Kim Shunpei is modeled after the life of his own father. Built from intimate memories of struggle in the gritty underbelly of Osaka, Yang's harrowing, kaleidoscopic novel depicts how patriarchal violence and restricted life chances can wrack a minority Korean community both during and after Japan's empire.About the AuthorYang Seok-il (b. 1936- )Born in Osaka, Japan, to a couple from Korea’s Jeju Island who settled in Japan during the Japanese occupation of the Korean Peninsula, Yang, whose Japanese name is Yan Sogiru, graduated from Osaka Prefectural Kozu High School and did odd jobs including driving a taxi after a business he pursued failed. His 1980s non-fiction work Takushi doraiba nisshi (Taxi Driver Diary), based on his experience as a cabbie, was made into the 1993 critically acclaimed film All under the Moon. He also won the 1998 Yamamoto Shugoro Prize of Japan for his semi-autobiographical novel Blood and Bones, which was also made into a film released in 2004.About the TranslatorAdhy Kim is a writer, scholar, and teacher of Asian and Asian American literature and culture.ContentsBlood and Bones 2Chapter 14Chapter 15Chapter 16Chapter 17Chapter 18Chapter 19Chapter 20Chapter 21Chapter 22Chapter 23Chapter 24Chapter 25Chapter 26

1st Collection of Short Stories on the Jeju April 3 Incident Published in 1957 as a Way of Informing the World Kim Sok-pom has devoted his writing career to raising awareness of the Jeju April 3 Incident through literature. Death of a Crow (1957) marked the beginning of his campaign; known as one of his major works, it is also the one that first earned him recognition. By writing about the uprising, he delved into history and the problems of humanity. Chronicling a variety of lives linked to the event was also his way of gaining understanding of this world.“Bak-seobang, Jailer,” “Death of a Crow,” and “Gwandeokjeong” are a series of closely intertwined works in this book that depict Jeju amid the massacre that lasted for about a year starting from summer 1948; “Death of a Crow” and “Gwandeokjeong” also feature the same person. Though “Feces and Freedom” and “A Tale of a False Dream” do not deal with the uprising directly, they help reveal the reasons why the author studied the massacre and his opinions of it.About the AuthorKim Sok-pomNovelist Kim Sok-pom, born in Osaka, Japan, in 1925, has extensively written novels related to the Jeju April 3 Incident on Jeju Island in 1948. He grew interested in the topic after hearing about the horrendous massacre from his relatives, who had stowed away to Japan. He devoted himself to raising awareness of such savagery through literature. Beginning with “Bak-seobang, Jailer” and “Death of a Crow” and later through The Curious Tale of Mandogi’s Ghost, “Gwandeokjeong,” and The Moon, he has kept producing works inspired by the event. In pursuit of freedom and liberation based on universality and in opposition to the absolutization of Japanese language, Kim has chosen to reclaim his identity as a Korean writer. For The Volcanic Island (Kazanto), he earned the Asahi Shimbun's Osaragi Jiro Award in 1983 and the Mainichi Arts Prize in 1984.About the TranslatorChristina Yi is an associate professor of modern Japanese literature at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. Receiving her Ph.D. from Columbia University, she had her first monograph, Colonizing Language: Cultural Production and Language Politics in Modern Japan and Korea, published by Columbia University Press in 2018. Yi was also the co-editor for both a special issue on zainichi (ethnic Korean residents of Japan) Korean literature and film for Azalea: Journal of Korean Literature and Culture 12 (2019) and the edited volume Passing, Posing, Persuasion: Cultural Production and Coloniality in Japan’s East Asian Empire (University of Hawaii Press).ContentsTranslator’s ForewordBak-seobang, JailerDeath of a CrowGwandeokjeongFeces and FreedomA Tale of a False Dream

Heaven in us is composed of poems by Yun Dong-ju, who is loved for his pure and concise poetry, and art by Kim Hwanki, who gives a transcendent and sublimated experience. About the Author Yun Dong-Ju was born on 30 December 1917 in a Korean village in Manchuria in China, which is resided by migrants fleeing from Japanese imperialism. After his childhood, he studied in Pyongyang and Seoul, Korea as well as in Tokyo and Kyoto, Japan, where he majored in English literature. On 14 July 1943, while returning from his studies to visit his homeland, he was arrested by the Japanese police as an enemy combatant and imprisoned in Fukuhoka Prison, Japan. He was sentenced to two years of imprisonment for independence activism and died in February 1945 at the age of 27 for unknown reasons. After his death, a collection of his poems was published in 1948. His poetry has been much loved ever since for his simple words and pureness of self-reflection. About the Artist Kim Whanki (* 27. Feb 1913 † 25. Jul 1974 ) was one of the most famous artist of South Korea and worked during his lifetime in Seoul, Tokyo, Paris and New York. His early works were semi-abstract paintings which allowed viewers to see certain forms, but his later works were more deeply absorbed abstract paintings, filled with lines and spaces. With refined and moderated formative expression based on Lyricism, he created his characteristic art world. “I feel the spirit of poetry here. One should hear a song in art. I hear very powerful songs in many great works. Now I know what I have been singing all these years, I finally got to know it, as I sensed the bright sun, here in Paris.(1957, Paris)” The artist's partner Kim Hyang-an established the Whanki Foundation in 1978 and opened the Whanki Museum in 1992, Seoul, Southkorea.

나는 이 소설을 읽는 당신이 슬퍼하기를 바란다. 뒤뜰을 가꾸는 서인의 뒷모습을, 캥거루를 타이어 레버로 내리치는 진우의 뒷모습을 오랫동안 바라봐주기를 바란다. 지나가버린 사랑을 온 힘을다해 움켜쥐고 있는 이들을 안쓰럽게 여겨주기를 바란다. 우리가 사랑을 포기하지 않음으로써 언젠가는 사랑에 다가갈 수도 있지 않겠냐고 말해주기를 바란다.I hope you feel grieved while reading the story. Even after you finish reading, I hope, you will never stop gazing after So-in tending the backyard or Jin-wu striking the kangaroo down with the tire lever. I hope you can be sympathetic towards the couple who are clutching with all their might at their love that is no more. I wish to hear you say: By not giving up on love, we may be able to come across it someday.- 창작노트 중에서 From Writer’s Note하나의 시간이 끝났음을 선고하는 일은 단순히 미래의 실패를 의미하지 않는다. 어떤 것이 흘러간 시간이 되어버렸을 때 그것은 추체험되기 시작한다. 이 서늘한 종언의 서사는 ‘지나가버린 미래’일지라도 그것에 대한 동경이 쉬이 끝나지 않을 것임을 암시한다. 그리고 바로 지금, ‘더 이상미래 없음’의 시점에서도 그 이후에 대한 어렴풋한 기대가 지금 어떤 관계를 완전히 끝장내지 못함을, 미래로 향하는 삶의 불확실성이란 그런 식으로 삶을 지속시킨다는 것을 우리는 조금씩 알아간다.Pronouncing the end of a time does not simply mean the failure to have the anticipated future arrive. Once something passes into the bygone times, it then begins to be re-experienced in one way or another. The terrible pronouncement of death paradoxically alludes to the fact that the aspiration for the future is hard to die even after it becomes the ‘bygone future.’ And now, at this moment of ‘no more future,’ some expectation for the ‘thereafter,’ faint as it may be, holds one back from ending the present relationship once and for all. Thus, we learn little by little that is the way the uncertainty of the future has us carry on with our lives.- 선우은실(문학평론가) Sunwoo Eunsil(Literary Critic)   Contents: 골드러시 Gold Rush창작노트 Writer’s Note해설 Commentary비평의 목소리 Critical Acclaim

『해피투게더』는 저자 서장원의 주옥같은 작품을 만나볼 수 있는 책이다.

K-픽션 스물여덟 번째 작품. 부조리한 세계의 불안과 공포를 집요하게 그려내는 편혜영 소설가의 의 작품 『홀리데이 홈』을 한영 대역으로 만나볼 수 있다. 영문 번역은 편혜영의 대표작이자 셜리잭슨상 수상작인 『홀』을 번역한 김소라 번역가가 맡았다. 『홀리데이 홈』은 군인이었던 이진수가 군대 내 납품단가 조작 사건에 가담한 책임을 홀로 떠안은 후 전역한 이후의 삶을 그리고 있다. 이후 고깃집을 운영하는 이진수에게 삶의 무대는 바뀌었지만 살아가는 방식은 변하지 않는다는 증거들이 아내 장소령에게도 포착된다. 부동산에 내놓은 집을 보러온 박민우가 이진수를 기억하며 술 취해 던지는 말들은 어떤 일이 벌어질 듯 불안을 증폭시킨다. 군대에 있었을 때 그들 사이에 무슨 일인가가 있었음에 분명하지만 그 장면은 분명하게 그려지지는 않는다. 인아영 문학평론가는 이진수에게 정확히 어떤 일이 있었고 그가 어떤 일을 저질렀는지 “그런 것들은 중요하지 않다”고 말하며 “중요한 것은 이진수에게 구체적으로 무슨 일이 있어났는지와 무관하게 소설이 견고한 형식으로 짜여 있다는 사실, 다시 말해 이진수가 저지른 행위의 구체적인 내용이 텅 비어 있다는 사실 자체”라고 말한다. 이 부조리한 세계는 인간들에게 내용이 아닌 형식에 복무하게 만들기 때문이다. 또한 그 세계가 집약되어 있는 군대에서의 삶을 완벽하게 체득하여 “권위와 위계”를 칭찬으로 여길 뿐인 이진수에게는 딜레마가 없다. 딜레마는 이 모든 것을 그의 아내 장소령의 시선으로 볼 때만 감지된다. 그러한 파국에 이르는 과정을 곁에서 지켜본다는 것의 섬뜩함, 자신 역시 그와 크게 다르지 않은 얼굴을 하고 있다는 사실이 이 작품을 읽는 독자들에게도 전달될 것이다.

K-픽션 서른두 번째 작품. 2022년 심훈문학대상 수상작인 정한아 작가의 소설 <지난밤 내 꿈에>가 한영대역본으로 출간되었다. 영문 번역은 스텔라 김 번역가가 맡았다. 정한아 작가는 작가노트에서 “질병과 돈, 그리고 은총에 대한 이야기를 하고 싶다”는 마음으로 이 소설을 썼다고 밝히고 있다. 이 소설은 한센병력이 있는 외할머니에서부터 이어지는 3대 모녀의 이야기를 그린 작품이다. 외할머니는 화자의 엄마를 버린 적이 있고 그 때문에 모녀의 관계는 냉랭하기만 하다. 남편의 가정폭력을 견디지 못하고 외할머니를 찾아갔을 때도 환대는커녕 모진 말을 듣고 상처를 받는다. 도무지 화해의 가능성이 보이지 않는 세 사람이지만 외할머니가 받게 된 보상금을 처리하는 과정에서 서로가 지닌 삶의 무게를 조금씩 들여다보게 된다. 이 작품은 2022년 발표되어 여러 문학상 후보로 언급되었으며 심훈문학대상으로 선정되었다.

K-픽션 서른 한 번째 작품. 2021년 심훈문학대상 수상작인 장강명 작가의 소설 『당신이 보고 싶어하는 세상』이 한역대역본으로 출간되었다. 소설은 ‘에이전트’라는 스마트 기기가 상용화된 세계를 배경으로 하고 있다. ‘에이전트’는 소설의 제목과 같이 이용자가 바라는 대로 현실을 순화하거나 미화하여, 또 완전히 왜곡하여 그가 ‘보고 싶어하는 세상’만을 전달하는 기기이다. 에이전트를 착용한 채 자신이 원하는 세상을 ‘진짜’로 믿으며 살아가는 사람들이 야기하는 윤리적인 문제들을 제기하며 소설은 진행된다. 소설 속 교묘하게 설정된 여러 요소들은 현재 우리 사회가 직면해 있는 모습과 크게 다르지 않은 것 같다. 지금도 많은 사람들은 가짜 뉴스에 현혹되어 그것을 진짜인 것처럼 믿고 살아가며 그 믿음에 근거해 음모론을 펼치기도 한다. 그들에게는 저마다의 세계만이 옳고 다른 모든 주장은 폐기해야 할 거짓 선동에 불과하다. 왜 사람들은 허구의 세계에 빠져드는 것일까. 우리는 진짜로 옳은 것이 무엇인지를 확신할 수 있을까. “리얼리티는 단 한 명의 사람의 눈으로 보는, 단일한 세상이 아니라, 여러 세상들 사이의 치열한 소통 과정에서 출현하는 동적인 사태일 것이다. 타인의 우주가 탄생할 때 나의 우주도 함께 탄생한다.”(노대원 문학평론가)전 세계 독자들과 실시간으로 공유하는 한국문학, K-픽션〈K-픽션〉은 최근에 발표된 가장 우수하고 흥미로운 작품을 엄선하여 한영대역으로 소개하는 시리즈로, 한국문학의 생생한 현장을 국내외 독자들과 공유하고자 기획되었다. 매 계절 새로운 작품을 선보이고 있다.   책 속으로 내가 받아들이기 편하게 수정해도 되는 현실의 경계가 어디인지 알 수 없고, 그런 힘이 생겼을 때 내가 얼마나 통제력을 발휘할 수 있을지도 모른다. 이것은 중요한 윤리적 고민인데 그 기계를 만들어 시장에 내놓는 기업들은 그에 대해 물론 아무 생각이 없을 테다. 이것이 오늘날 현대 세계가 처한 상황이다.I didn’t know where the bounds of such a reality, revised to my comfort and liking, would be, nor did I know how much control I would be able to exert if I had that sort of power. This is an important ethical concern, but of course the companies that create and market such technology would give no thought to this at all. This is the situation we are facing in the modern world today.창작노트 중에서 From Writer’s Note『당신이 보고 싶어하는 세상』은 작가가 걸어온 두 길이 만나는 접점에 위치한다. 즉, 언론인 출신으로서 사회 변화를 포착하는 탁월한 감각, SF 소설가로서 미래 기술의 가능성과 그 한계를 서사화하는 재능 모두가 발휘된 단편소설이다. 특별히, 이 소설은 ‘에이전트’라는 미래의 도구에서 사회와 기술의 접점이 발견된다.“The World You Want to See” is located at the point the writer’s these two paths meet. In this story, both Chang’s excellent sensibility as a former journalist in capturing social change as well as his talent as a sci-fi writer for narrativizing the possibilities and limits of futuristic technology are on full display. In the futuristic “Agents,” especially, we can see where society and technology come together.해설 중에서 From Commentary   Contents: 당신이 보고 싶어하는 세상 The World You Want to See창작노트 Writer's Note해설 Commentary비평의 목소리 Critical Acclaim

신선한 개성과 활력이 넘치는 젊은 작가 단편작 시리즈 두 번째 작품. 최근 발표된 가장 우수하고 흥미로운 작품을 엄선한 은 한국 문학의 생생한 현장을 국내외 독자들과 실시간으로 공유하고자 기획되었다. 오늘의 한국 문학을 이끌어가는 개성 넘치는 신진 작가들의 최신작으로 이어지는 은 우리 문학의 가장 핫한 트렌드를 보여주고 있다. 시리즈의 두 번째 작품은 박형서 작가의 「아르판」(Arpan)이다. 작가의 글쓰기에 대한 자의식이 오롯하게 드러난 작품으로, 태국과 미얀마 접경 고산 지대에 사는 아르판이라는 한 사나이와 나의 이야기를 그린 작품이다. 원본과 사본을 가르는 경계란 무엇인가라는 근원적인 질문을 통해 예술, 문학의 본질에 대해 되묻고 있는 수작이다.

최근 발표된 가장 우수하고 흥미로운 작품을 엄선한 K-픽션 시리즈의 세 번째 작품은 손보미 작가의 「애드벌룬」(Hot Air Balloon)이다. 타인의 상처와 죽음이 우리에게 어떤 의미로 다가오고, 어떻게 우리와 함께 자리하고 있는지를 보여주는 작품이다. “남의 슬픔을 잘 이해하고 자신을 제어할 줄 안다.” 파토스를 모조리 철수시키겠다는 듯 담담하고 건조하게 기술되는 그녀의 문장에서 독자들은 철필로 꾹꾹 눌러쓴 타자의 일대기들을 조심스럽게 발음하는 법을 배운다. 타인의 상처와 죽음이 어떠한 형식의 이야기로 출현되어야 하는가를, 그리하여 산 자들이 그러한 죽음들과 어떤 형식으로 ‘공-존재’하고 있는지를 조심스럽게 보여주는 것이다.