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  Book for You

  [Book for You] A Story She Hid from Her Husband

  (On a boat at sea) [Heo Gyun]The weather is great and so is my mood. [Heo Nanseolheon]I bet the messenger bird is happy too. [Heo Gyun]This one is from Indonesia. [Heo Nanseolheon]Let’s have a look.  Dear Team Heo,I'm a 34-year-old woman,who recently became passionate about writing.I’ve written a story based on my first love,but my husband thinks it's fictional.Should I come clean and tell him the truth?- Siti Uliyah  [Heo Gyun]That's a tricky one to answer. [Heo Nanseolheon]She must be in a major dilemma.She’s even reached out to us for advice. [Heo Gyun]It’s a tough nut to crack.Still, this book will probably help.I’d recommend “The Lingering Feelings”from Waiting for Sunlight by Park Seonwoo. [Heo Nanseolheon]What is the story about? [Heo Gyun]The first-person protagonist is a man.He’s been with his boyfriend for 100 days.Whenever his boyfriend is away, he searchesfor a woman named Su-kyeong on social media. [Heo Nanseolheon]So is Su-kyeong his first love? [Heo Gyun]Not exactly. She’s a former coworkerwith whom the protagonist had a special bond.She’s the first person he confided in abouthis sexual identity, but thinking of her stirs uppainful memories he wants to erase.He wonders if it’s necessary to revisit the past,once and for all, in order to move forward.So, he tells his boyfriend about Su-kyeong,saying he wants to reflect on her one last timeby writing a story about her. The boyfriend says,"Sounds good," and goes back to his book,leaving him feeling both lonely and comforted.  I’ve realized there’re stories I can’t share,even with the person I’m most honest with.And even if I manage to tell them,I must accept that my protagonistwon’t always stay by my side.-Park Seonwoo, "Lingering Feelings," Waiting for Sunshine (Munhakdongne, 2022) 40.  [Heo Nanseolheon]If your partner responds with such a curt replyafter you’ve mustered up the courageto talk about someone weighing on your heart,it’s only natural to feel that way. [Heo Gyun]Siti, if you love your husband,you may want to be honest with him,like the protagonist in the novel.But if your husband is the jealous type,it may be better to keep it as your secret. [Heo Nanseolheon]My catch is Choi Ji-eun's poetry collection,Spring Night Is Ending and the Poem Is Too Short.I'd like to read an excerpt from the poem“In the Summer You Walk Alone.”  I’m a suicide survivor.When the sound of my father’s halted call,from years ago in the summer,suddenly fills my mind,I, too, feel the urge to give up.A summertime in a daze.Yet somehow,the love that holds me backendures within my summer as well.- Choi Ji-eun, “In the Summer You Walk Alone,” Spring Night Is Ending and The Poem Is Too Short (Changbi, 2021)  The narrator admits there are momentswhen they want to give up on life,burdened by the guilt of missingtheir father’s final call.But they find peace by recalling the lovethat dispels such dark thoughts.For readers, it likely doesn’t matterwhether the narrator is Choi Ji-eun herself.When a writer consciously distances themselvesfrom their work, it allows for more honestand liberated writing.Siti should feel free to write in the same way,without constraints. [Heo Gyun]However, when writing about your first love,be mindful not to disrespect that person. [Heo Nanseolheon]In any case, the question of howto authentically weave personal storiesinto one’s work is a challenge many writers face.I hope you take the time to reflect on it. [Heo Gyun]I encourage you to reflect on why you wishto write about your first love.I understand if it’s simply to processunresolved feelings.However, consider whether you’re using itmerely as material for your work.Writing about someone else’s experiencesrequires a thoughtful approach. [Heo Nanseolheon]No matter which path you choose, trust yourself and give it your all! [Heo Gyun]May fortune smile upon your choice. [Heo Nanseolheon]All right. Let’s continue our journey. Translated by Helen Cho 

  by Korean Literature Now

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  Book for You

  [Book for You] A Late Bloomer's Love Fears

  (On a boat at sea) [Heo Gyun]The weather is lovely today.A perfect day for book recommendations. [Heo Nanseolheon]Ah, right! I almost forgot…It looks like we’re getting a message. [Heo Gyun]We have a message all the way from Nigeria. [Heo Nanseolheon]Let’s take a look.  Dear Team Heo,I’m turning 21 soon, but I’ve never dated anyone or been kissed. I’m really worried that if this keeps up,I might never get married. What should I do?– YourGirlXOXO  [Heo Gyun]She’s still pretty young,but if she’s not dating anyone,it’s worth giving some serious thought. [Heo Nanseolheon]I agree. [Heo Gyun]Let me find a book that could help her. Here is it! Romance Dopamine.It contains five stories. The more familiar you are with the different forms of love, the easier it will beto recognize it when it comes your way.I particularly recommend Kim Yi-sum’s “Listen to Popcorn.” [Heo Nanseolheon]Listen to popcorn? What is it about? [Heo Gyun]It features a woman named Seo-u.Having lost her voice from trauma,she is unable to speak.Meanwhile, “Popcorn” is a dating devicethat matches people by analyzing vocal waves. [Heo Nanseolheon]What a mysterious device! [Heo Gyun]At first, Seowoo doesn’t seewhy anyone would use Popcorn.But one day, she buys one on a whim.Then she connects with Si-hun, a musician,and slowly falls for him. [Heo Nanseolheon]It must be encouraging when Seo-u, who lost her voice, starts having conversations.So what happens to them in the end? [Heo Gyun]Unfortunately, they never become a couple.Just as they’re about to meet, in a crowded subway,Seo-u and others drop their Popcorns.She mistakenly picks up Min-u’s Popcorn.To find hers, she calls Ju-jin,who is connected to Minwoo’s Popcorn. [Heo Nanseolheon]What a mess!With only a call with Ju-jin as a clue,even tracking down Min-u seems impossible. [Heo Gyun]Eventually, Seo-u finds Min-u.As they exchange their Popcorn,she sees Min-u and Ju-jin meetfor the very first time.  Why do people always run away?What are they so afraid of?What was I afraid of?With each step forwardquestions crowded Seo-u’s mind.But the moment she saw Ju-jin and Min-u’s faces,all her questions dissolved.It was the look of people in love.-Kim Yi sum, “Listen to Popcorn,” Romance Dopamine (Safehouse, 2024), 195.  [Heo Gyun]Though Seo-u has complex feelingsabout love, watching the two meetmakes all of them vanish.It’s because she witnesses loveunfolding right before her eyes. [Heo Nanseolheon]This is a perfect story for YourGirlXOXO!Since she has yet to experience love,it’s natural for her to feel scared and unsure. [Heo Nanseolheon]It’s my turn now. I’d like to read from Kim So Yeon’s poem “Second Floor Guest Lounge.”  What if… Just what if…After thinking this about 50,000 times,I become the “what if” myself.By thinking too muchI turn into thought.I open the door,gather all those thoughts, floating like dust, on my palms, and then release them, like setting a bug free.-Kim So Yeon, “Second Floor Guest Lounge,” Catalyzing Night (Moonji, 2023)  [Heo Nanseolheon]It’s all right to think aheadand worry about the future.But overthinking makes worries pile up.The narrator feels trapped in a statewhere too much thinkingmakes them “turn into thought.”So they decide to open the door,gather “all those thoughts, floating like dust,”on their palms before letting them go. [Heo Gyun]Sometimes, stepping back from a problemhelps solve it more easily.By the way, I find YourGirlXOXOto be a romantic and innocent person.Some people separate “kissing”from “dating” and see them as different.Some crave only physical contact,while others long for emotional connection.But YourGirlXOXO sees it all as one—kissing, dating, and even marriage! [Heo Nanseolheon]Exactly. I hope YourGirlXOXO holds onto her romantic belief in love.It’d be a shame to get worn outfrom overthinking while waiting for love.I’d suggest loving yourself moreand waiting for love with excitement and joy! [Heo Gyun]Love will find everyone at the right time,and the pace is different for each person.I hope she doesn’t rush it. [Heo Nanseolheon]One day, she’ll definitely meet her other half.Until then, why not enjoy exploringdiverse forms of love? [Heo Gyun]I wish the best for YourGirlXOXO’s lovethat will surely come. [Heo Nanseolheon]Now then, let’s be on our way again. Translated by Helen Cho

  by Korean Literature Now

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  Book for You

  [Book for You] A Teddy Bear Lover's Guilty Pleasure

  (On a boat at sea) [Heo Gyun]The wind is picking up today. [Heo Nanseolheon]I know. Hope we still get a letter, though. [Heo Gyun]Whoa! That was a close call. [Heo Nanseolheon]Let’s see what we’ve got today.  I’m in my 30s but still attached to my teddy bear.I feel uneasy without it, sleeping or traveling.Should I try to be more grown-up?- Soontare  [Heo Nanseolheon]That could easily happen to anyone. [Heo Gyun]I know a poet who’s been usingthe same fountain pen for 10 years. [Heo Gyun]Let’s see what I can find.Ah, here it is!My Little Doll’s House by Joung Yumi [Heo Nanseolheon]Oh, it must be about dolls! [Heo Gyun]That’s right. A girl named Yujin loves playing with her doll.But she’s too timid to tell her friends. Startled, Yujin snapped around.Three girls stared at her curiously.“What’s in that box?” Feeling embarrassed about her dollhouse, Yujin quickly closed the lid.“It’s nothing,” she mumbled.The girls turned around and walked away.- Joung Yumi, “My Little Doll's House,” My Little Doll’s House (Culture Platform Inc., 2015)  [Heo Gyun]Yujin journeys inside the dollhouse she built,meeting various characters along the way.First, she meets a girl lying in bedand asks her to join her outside.But the girl says it’s warm and cozy inside.Undeterred, Yujin wants to explore the world.She meets more characters and invites them out,but they all decline.Yujin reassures them, saying it’s okay.With each refusal, they disappear,leaving Yujin alone. [Heo Nanseolheon]They’re manifestations of her fears! [Heo Gyun]In the end, Yujin greets the other kids with her doll.She gains deeper self-understanding, and the courage to explore the wider world. [Heo Nanseolheon]Soontare, your teddy bear helps you sleep welland travel with peace of mind.[Heo Gyun]Just as Yujin struggled to face the world without her doll, Soontare’s cherished companion makes daily life richer and more fulfilling.That’s something to celebrate! [Heo Nanseolheon]Absolutely! Your life is going great. It doesn’t get more mature than that. [Heo Nanseolheon]It’s my turn now.My catch of the day is a poem by Lim Seung-yu,titled “A Long-Sleeved Green Shirt and Black Trousers.” It brimmed with vitality—soft and moist.I stroked it gently with my palm and even took a sniff.As I repeated these motions, I grew more and more impatient.What else should I do to stay beside this blue thing? - Lim Seung-yu, “A Long-Sleeved Blue Shirt and Black Trousers,” Vitality Unfolded (Munhakdongne, 2024)  [Heo Nanseolheon]‘This blue thing’ is a stone covered in moss.Why so much affection for a mere stone? Haha!To the narrator, it’s a special object full of life. [Heo Gyun]If someone can treasure a blue stone like that,imagine how much more a teddy bear could mean.By the way, how does the poem end? [Heo Nanseolheon]I bet you’re curious!What are you doing here?Someone was looking down at me, holding a child’s hand.They were dressed in a long-sleeved blue shirt and black trousers.I was about to get up.Like every other living thing around me, I slowly made my way toward the sunlit horizon.- Lim Seung-yu, “A Long-Sleeved Blue Shirt and Black Trousers,” Vitality Unfolded (Munhakdongne, 2024)  [Heo Nanseolheon]The narrator ends up leaving the blue stone behind.One simple question makes them walk awayfrom the stone they cherished so deeply.Isn’t that fascinating? [Heo Gyun]They must’ve realized they’d been sitting by the stone for too long. [Heo Nanseolheon]Exactly. The unexpected question made it possiblefor them to leave the stone behind. I must point out that having a teddy bear is neither good nor bad. There’s no need to stress about carrying it around. Someday, you might leave it behind by chance. When that moment comes, it’s okay to get up and part with it. [Heo Gyun]I'll tell you a secret. I have a soft toy that I keep by my bedside. A friend gave it to me as a gift. At first, I wasn’t sure what it was for, but over time, it has given me great comfort. [Heo Nanseolheon]I didn’t know that. I envy both you and Soontare for having a source of comfort in life. [Heo Gyun]I hope your teddy bear remains a good friend to you. [Heo Nanseolheon]Now, let’s get going again. Translated by Helen Cho

  by Korean Literature Now

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  Book for You

  [Book for You] An Ex's Guilty Pleasure

  (On a boat at sea) [Heo Gyun]The world is a vast place,and people's stories are truly varied. [Heo Nanseolheon]Absolutely. It's surprising to seehow many people have daily struggles!Wouldn't it be wonderfulto live in a worry-free world? [Heo Gyun]Here comes another story! [Heo Nanseolheon]This one is from Sri Lanka. Dear Team Heo,I created a Facebook account to spy on my ex-boyfriend once.- Hellotalk [Heo Gyun]Well, in the age of social media,we've all been there, done that. [Heo Nanseolheon]Just don’t hit the like buttonby mistake, right? Haha. [Heo Gyun]Let me find something that could help.Got it! It’s a short story titled "About Naju"by Kim Hwa-jin. [Heo Nanseolheon]Naju must be an important character. [Heo Gyun]In this story, a woman named Dan meets her late boyfriend’s ex, Naju, at work. But already having spied on her online, Dan knows a lot about her.Instead of being jealous, she likes Naju and wants to impress her. [Heo Nanseolheon]Some people might not get the way Dan behaves towards Naju. Haha. Maybe Dan is trying to remember her late boyfriend, Gyuhee, through Naju?  [Heo Gyun]Incessantly going through her Instagram,Facebook, and blog,I'm bound to find traces of Gyuhee.I do it over and over again.Even when there are no new updates,I keep browsing until I find his traces.I look at his comments and photos,not to mention the posts he is tagged inbefore I finally close the window,with my heart pounding and cheeks flushed.- Kim Hwa-jin, "About Naju," About Naju (Munhakdongne, 2022)  With Gyuhee gone, Dan spies on Naju’s social media to hold on to her feelings. [Heo Nanseolheon]In a way, it’s natural to feel that way. [Heo Gyun]Exactly. Wondering how an ex is doing,checking if they’re having a hard time like you,not wanting them to move on too quickly—those are the most natural reactions. [Heo Nanseolheon]The key is to realize that what you're feeling is natural, and that you should accept it. It's my turn now.I've got ""Ghost's Time"" by Eugene Mok. I was in the wrongYou did nothing wrongOnly if lies would keep us togetherLoveYetSilence was the only answer- Eugene Mok, "Ghost's Time," Birth of a Writer (Minumsa, 2020)  The speaker thinks they're to blame for the breakup. But the message of the poem is that blaming oneself is a "lie." The speaker desperately wants to keep the love, even if it involves lying. Yet, the speaker knows thatthey can't fix broken love that way.Still, they can't let go of past love, lingering around it constantly like a ghost. [Heo Gyun]Nobody is completely fine after a breakup.Many people get hung up on past love.Who knows? The speaker might have spiedon their ex's social media, too. Hahaha! [Heo Nanseolheon]It won't be easy for the time being,but I suggest deleting your new FB account.Whenever you feel like looking him up,just ask yourself, ""What good would it do?" [Heo Gyun]But if you still can't look away, what else can you do but keep going?I guess the obstacle only fuels the desire.If it makes you feel better, do whatever your heart desires. [Heo Nanseolheon]That's one way to deal with it.Even right now, many people are creating secret SNS accounts to spy on their exes.People get over breakups at different speeds.Hellotalk, you're just taking a little longer.Please don't worry about it too much. [Heo Gyun]This, too, will pass. Time heals everything, so don't worry. [Heo Nanseolheon]Aright, let's move on then. Translated by Helen Cho

  by Korean Literature Now

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  Book for You

  [Book for You] An EXO Fan's Guilty Pleasure

  (On a boat at sea) [Heo Gyun]Summer is already here!It's getting so hot. [Heo Nanseolheon]I should've brought my fan. [Heo Gyun]Let's get some watermelon and cool off later.Here is our letter for today. [Heo Nanseolheon]Flying all the way from India must have been pretty strenuous for the bird. Dear Team Heo,My secret is that I buy EXO merchandise like light sticks, albums, and clothes with my own money, and then tell my family that I got them as gifts.- Juban [Heo Gyun]That's so sweet! Why does Juban keep it a secret? [Heo Nanseolheon]She must have her reasons.I hope she finds today's catch helpful. [Heo Gyun]Let's see what I can fish out for her.Here is Hold My Universe by Park Sa-rang. [Heo Nanseolheon]What a romantic title! [Heo Gyun]The novel follows Yang, Didi, and Jenna,three women in their 30s brimming with love and passion.They’ve been fans of various idols since they were 19.Now they feel like they're raising babies.Oh, this is not a story about dating, but about fandom culture. Their first idols were older than them. Now much older than their idols, the women affectionately call them 'babies.' Despite their modest salaries, high rent, and social pressure to marry,they each keep their passion alive. When Didi learns of the passing of her idol Yuya,she travels to Japan and meets Ken, a male fan. I hastily pulled out my purse and offered to pay, But he refused, saying: “Just consider it a gift from Yuya.”  - Park Sa-rang, "Hold My Universe," Hold My Universe(Jaeum&Moeum Publishing, 2019)  [Heo Nanseolheon]Eating out with someone you’ve just met can lead to awkward moments when the bill arrives. This is such a lovely way to handle it. [Heo Gyun]I agree! Despite the solemn occasion, Didi can't help but compliment him. Juban, why not consider your purchases as gifts from your favorite EXO member? That way, it will be easier for you to tell your family that they're from your friends. [Heo Nanseolheon]I appreciate you spending your own money.But there must be other reasons why you want to keep it a secret. If you feel that your family might interfere too much, it's probably best to keep them in the dark. This 'white lie' will help you preserve your love and passion.  [Heo Gyun]After all, you should eliminate anything that gets in the way of your love. [Heo Nanseolheon]I’ve caught “Bronze Mirror” by Park YeonJoon.  But in the past I was wrong.I was wrong. Like twisted jokes in twisted times,I grew up. It’s worth recording. I was wrong time and again,wrong repeatedly,wrong in all different ways! Not now. But in the past, I was wrong.  -Park YeonJoon, “Bronze Mirror,” Go See If Love Is Dead (Munhakdongne,2024)  Park's message is clear and simple.She has experienced countless “wrongs!”Now she's mature enough torecord them all with honesty. Her confession that she was “wrong time and again”and “wrong repeatedly” conveys her determinationthat she will follow the right path from now on. Juban, you may believe it's wrong to claim that you received EXO merchandise as gifts.While others may not see it as a big deal,what matters is that you feel guilty about lying. I'm not saying you should come clean about everything. It's important that you try not to be ""wrong"" from now on. [Heo Gyun]There is a Korean proverb that says“To make a sore by scratching.”It means you should not stir up a hornet’s nest.One solution is to let sleeping dogs lie,and bury minor wrongdoings of the past.  [Heo Gyun]Please don't trouble yourself too much. Just remember one thing when buying merch in the future.Don't go overboard just because your bias is paying for it, hahaha! [Heo Nanseolheon]You know what? I'm actually a little jealous of Juban for having the means to buy merch, the energy to cherish her passion, and also for having someone who brings joy into her life. [Heo Gyun]I hope our book prescriptions are helpful.Think about what gives you peace of mind,and enjoy being an idol fan! [Heo Nanseolheon]Alright then, it’s time for us to go! Translated by Helen Cho

  by Korean Literature Now

• 

  Book for You

  [Book for You] A 68-Year-Old K-Drama Fan's Guilty Pleasure

  (On a boat at sea)[Heo Gyun]Did I eat too much earlier?I’m so full I could burst.[Heo Nanseolheon]I told you not to have another bowl.[Heo Gyun]Not to worry!It won’t stop me from going over the letters.And here’s our first letter for today. [Heo Nanseolheon]This one is from the UK.  Dear Team Heo,I’m a 68 year old woman with a guilty secret that none of my friends would understand.I swoon over the male leads in K-dramas!They’re gorgeous and incredibly talented. Am I too immature for my age?- Lulu  [Heo Gyun]What a cute letter![Heo Nanseolheon]Just another passionate K-drama fan.But she’s one of a kind in her age group.She must’ve been so lonely.[Heo Gyun]Right, then! What’s the catch of the day? Phantom Limb Pain by Lee Heejoo[Heo Nanseolheon]What a fascinating title![Heo Gyun]This is the story of two twentysomethings, M and Manok, both avid fans of an idol named Minkyu. Alongside them is another person, also named Minkyu, who harbors deep feelings for M. The narrative delves into the profound depths of human love. Whether I’m nine or ninety, Minkyu remains his lovable self.(…)But people always take issue with our age gap. Despite knowing that everyone is drawn to beauty, they see me as an eccentric solely because of my age. — Lee Heejoo, "Phantom Limb Pain," Phantom Limb Pain(Munhakdongne, 2016)[Heo Nanseolheon]Sounds like Lulu's story!She’d find it relatable and burst out laughing.[Heo Gyun]It’s a lot like her situation, isn’t it? Lulu thinks that her friends won't understand herbut I wonder if that's really the case. She could be worrying over nothing.Maybe if you muster the courage to talk about it, you might be delighted to discover that your friends feel the same. And if anyone does judge youhow about you shoot back?Lee Sora once sang, ‘Don’t tell me that my love isn’t true.’ [Heo Nanseolheon]Indeed, everyone’s love is unique in its depth and expression.[Heo Nanseolheon]It’s my turn now!The Lovely Calves of My Life by Hwang Insook.A not-very-long escalatorComes down not-very-fastSquirm, squirm, squirmThe steps descendAnd upstreamMy soles itch to leapThe escalator gathers speedAt that rate, I think I can winBut if I fail, what a sorry sightTwo hands braced before meBottom out, slidingAnd if I succeed, what a sorry sightA woman her age,Doing something like that?They’d all take shots at meSquirm, squirm, the escalator stepsDescend endlesslyInviting me to give it a climb—Hwang Insook, “Waiting for the Train,” The Lovely Calves of My Life(Munhakgwajiseongsa, 2022)The poet is in her 60s but still writes like she’s in her prime.I'm reminded of Lulu’s unwavering passion.Some might criticize a woman her age for trying to run up a downward escalator, saying: 'A woman her age, doing something like that?' But when the escalator tempts us, inviting us to climb,age becomes irrelevant.how could we resist such a sweet lure?[Heo Gyun]That’s right. Isn’t that how our hearts work? They remain the same no matter how old we are.[Heo Gyun]I remember a conversation I had with Mother when I was about 10.One day, I came home after running around outside, having fun with my friends.I found her doing the dishes.'Do grown-ups ever have any fun?' I asked.Mother, who was in her 40s at the time, stopped washing the dishes and said, ‘Your heart remains the same no matter how old you are.’[Heo Nanseolheon]Huh, I didn’t know about that.The heart ages much slower than the body.Those whose hearts grow old before their bodies are unfortunate. I wonder if Lulu’s ageless heart might be the most essentially human part of her. I hope that Lulu remains the same at age 78, 88, even 98! [Heo Gyun]Make sure this gets there in one piece![Heo Nanseolheon]Right then, let’s get going again. Translated by Jean Kim

  by Korean Literature Now

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  Book for You

  [Book for You] My guilty pleasure, BL Dramas

  (On a boat at sea) [Heo Gyun]What a beautiful day it is, Sister. A great day for a book recommendation, I’d say. [Heo Nanseolheon]That’s right! It completely slipped my mind… Oh, looks like the letter’s coming in now. [Heo Gyun]This letter’s come all the way from Egypt.  [Heo Nanseolheon]Let’s take a look.   Dear Team Heo,I grew up in a conservative household.But when I was in high school, I stumbled upon a BL TV series and got hooked. I started watching more in secret.But I couldn’t share my new interest online.Things are different now, because I’ve met a group of supportive friends. We talk about our favorite shows together,and even share recommendations. Still, I can’t bring myself to share this guilty pleasure with others just yet.Should I do something about it?—Noono   [Heo Gyun]BL…Keeping that secret must’ve weighed heavy on her heart. [Heo Nanseolheon]That’s for sure. Not to mention the constant worry that her parents might find out…  [Heo Gyun]Right!Let’s start fishing. Ah, Dear My Bias by Ryu Shieun. [Heo Nanseolheon]That title alone is really something. [Heo Gyun]This is a story about otaku just like Noono. The narrator goes to an idol performance.There she meets a young woman with green hair, who strikes up a conversation upon seeing her phone wallpaper. Having scrutinized me carefully, Green Hair leaned forward and asked furtively:“Unni, we’re in-laws, right?”“Excuse me?” “Well, you’re a Hobil shipper too, aren’t you? Everyone knows this photo. Hobin and Jinil? No?”   —Ryu Shieun, Dear My Bias (p. 15) They say one otaku attracts another. It turns out both the narrator and Green Hair have a soft spot for the Hobin and Jinil pairing, commonly known as ‘Hobil.’ Isn’t it funny how two peopleimmediately become “in-laws”when they realize their top two favorites overlap? [Heo Nanseolheon]What a rare and precious connection. [Heo Gyun]The two geek out over a beer until late into the evening. When Green Hair says she plans to spend the night at a 24-hour café, the narrator convinces her to share her hotel room, where they both get a hot shower and a good night’s rest. The next morning, they buy matching outfits before parting ways. [Heo Nanseolheon]It seems to me that Noono’s connection with her friends is like the narrator’s with Green Hair. The friends who support Noono’s passionate love without trying to change her feel like her haven, just like the safe shelter the narrator provides for Green Hair. [Heo Gyun]I see Noono’s gratitude toward her friendsreflected in the image of Green Hair waiting for the narrator to wake up with a freshly bought morning coffee in hand. You know as well as I do, don’t you, that you can’t click like this right away with just any friend? [Heo Nanseolheon]Of course. So it’s my turn now! I’ve caught “A Poem Good for Your Health” by Ko Seonkyeong, featuring a poet-cum-narrator and her mother. My mom is always wondering about the potency of things—the potency of blueberries,the potency of tomatoes,the potency of gardenias. I obsess over the potency of kindness,or the potency of poetry. Affection and gazes filled with warmth and attention…think you want them? […] But Mom, do you see?They see me and laugh. The reason Mom eats blueberriesis because blueberries are good for the eyes—Bullshit. Mom just likes blueberries. —Ko Seonkyeong, Shower Gel and Soda Water  The narrator does not believe there’s any ‘pathos, kind gazes, or warm attention’ in her poetry. In fact, some people even mock her work. Still, she considers her poem to be ‘good for the health.’ [Heo Gyun]Efficacy and health… [Heo Nanseolheon]Noono, don’t you think that healthy peoplecan have their own preferences? And doesn’t having those preferences make you healthier in turn? The poet’s mother “just likes blueberries.” There’s no reason for your preferences, so just like what you like. Isn’t that what a truly healthy preference is?  [Heo Gyun]That’s right, there’s no shame in liking something. Noono, I’d like for you to focus on the people with whom you can safely share what you like, not the people you have to hide it from. That way, couldn’t you one day be a safe space for your friends when they share their own special preferences? [Heo Nanseolheon]Absolutely!There’s no need to reveal your secrets to everyone! Doesn’t everyone have their own private story? It’s enough for you to open up when you feel it’s safe to do so. Having definite preferences is a testamentto your health in both mind and body. I hope you can share your healthy preferences with your healthy friends to your heart’s content! [Heo Gyun]Make sure this gets there in one piece! [Heo Nanseolheon]Right then, let’s get going again!  Translated by Jean Kim 

  by Korean Literature Now

• 

  Book for You

  [Book for You] I love my daughter, but I feel alone.

  Sohn Jeong-seung(Sohn): Hello! We’re the book prescribers, providing comfort in your time of need through the medium of books.I’m Sohn Jeong-seung! Kim Sanghyuk(Kim): And I’m Kim Sanghyuk, the man who speaks through poems. Kim: It’s said that even married couples often feel lonely.This is especially true of women, who generally do the childrearing.In many of these cases, these women report feelings of depression and loneliness. Sohn: I think our letter this time is experiencing something similar.Let’s listen to it together. Kim: This letter comes to us from Thoraia in Egypt. Thoraia’s letter to Book for You I am the mother to a young daughter who will be turning three years old soon. Sometimes I find myself crying from stress and loneliness. It's hard to be doing all the childcare when I work as well and my husband comes home late each day. I used to think I was happy, but not anymore. I love my daughter, but at the same time I feel alone. Sohn: When I saw this letter, my thoughts immediately went toTo the Lost Name, a collection of interrelated short stories by the writer Kim Yi-seol. The subtleties of this type of book lie in the way little details connect each story to one another.This collection features four married women who each star as the main character of her story—women who pass tissues to one another in the hospital or a café,or happen to find themselves viewing the same artwork in the hospital lobby. The waiting patients were stealing glances at So-yeong, but her tears kept flowing without end. The middle-aged woman sitting next to her passed her a tissue she’d fished out of her handbag. She briefly met the eyes of a married woman walking to the examination room after being called, whose gaze said she understood So-yeong completely.From “Lost Child” Sohn: The lobby of the hospital in this story has a Rothko hanging on the wall.Mark Rothko apparently once asked for his paintings to be viewed from a distance of 18 inches (45 cm). The literary critic Park Hye-jin, who provided commentary on this collection, refers to this distance not as one of observation, but as a “distance of participation.” Thoraia, I hope that you’ll never forget that there are precious people around you who can pass you a tissue from eighteen inches away, even if they may be far away in body if not in spirit. I also hope that you’ll never forget your name,as that’s also something Kim Yi-seol asks of her readers. Kim: Though we take our individuality for granted up until marriage,it’s easy to forget once you have children that you’re more than just a parent. I think the words “Don’t forget your name” will be a great comfort to us all. “Think of your loved ones who will call your nameand pass you a tissue from 18 inches away.” Kim: Listening to this letter reminded me of when I was caring for my three-year-old.Back then, I think I was even more exhausted mentally than I was physically. Children need to be watched constantly, even if they aren’t doing anything special,and their needs met whenever they arise. You’re not really using your head much, just staring at your kid all day long.While I was spending my time spacing out like that, I knew my friends would be reading and studying and working, and I think it was this idea that they’d all be leaving me behind that made me feel more depressed. To console Thoraia in her time of loneliness,here’s an excerpt from Park Joon’s poem “Autumn Words.” You’re lonely, right? But that’s not loneliness if you look there’s someone who’s thinking about you they’re lonely too that makes two alone then that’s not loneliness, From “Autumn Words” Kim: How’s that?I think all I can do is recommend overcoming your lonelinessby finding comfort in others who feel just as alone. There must be others near you who like poetry and Korean literature.I have faith that in the process of reading together, a club of one could become two, and then three, and then ten, letting you conquer your loneliness at least a little. “May one and one come together to fill up the space of loneliness…” Sohn: The idea that “two alone is not loneliness”is a great comfort for me as well. Hoping that our words today will shine a light in the darkness for Thoraia,we’ll say our goodbyes for now. Kim: Book for You: Sohn: A book for you! Bye! Today’s Prescriptions: To the Lost Name & We Could See the Rainy Season Together   Translated by Jean Kim 

  by Korean Literature Now

• 

  Book for You

  [Book for You] I Still Miss My Father.

  Sohn Jeong-seung(Sohn): Hello!Providing comfort through the medium of books,I’m Sohn Jeong-seung, the book prescriber! Kim Sanghyuk(Kim): And I’m Kim Sanghyuk, the man who speaks through poems. Kim: Everyone needs somebody to depend on.But what happens if one day, that somebody disappears? Sohn: Today we’d like to introduce the story of someone who is strugglingwith the absence of the father she considered a lifelong mentor. This letter comes to us from Yara in Egypt. Yara’s letter to Book for you My father was always kind. He granted my every wish, combed my hair, and took me on picnics to the beach. Ever since he passed away, it feels like everything is over. It’s been fifteen years, and I have work and hobbies to fill my time, but whenever I remember my father, I just wish I could return to the past. Will I ever stop feeling this way? Kim: I think it’s all too natural to long for a loved one even after their death, and to wish to return to the past. But I wonder if Yara could become someone who yearns for the pastand misses her father even while living a full life in the present,as some pasts, feelings, and memories are never really overcome.I don’t think it’s a bad thing to acknowledge that. So my prescription is “Catch That Spring,” by the poet Kim Hyesoon.  Some things can’t be helped this way or thatSpring takes my mother like a swaddle made of flowers Catch that springI flail my hands like a woman blindfolded(…) No, the flowers can’t bloomNo one can I say the magic words From "Catch That Spring"   Kim: Sensing that her mother will pass away come spring, the poet records in the form of a poemher wish that the season of blooming flowers might never come. The poet, Kim Hyesoon, lost her mother as well.But she preserved her final feelings in a poem,revisiting her longing for her mother again and again in its reading. I think that Yara’s father will only truly disappear from this worldif she stops missing or remembering him. So I hope that she can lead a healthy life in the presenteven as she continues to miss her father and look back at the past. As long as it lives on in memory, love never disappears. Sohn: I too could feel in the letter how much Yara and her father loved each other,I finally decided on Jeong Ji A’s novel, My Father’s Liberation Journal. Sohn: This book begins with the sudden death of the narrator’s father,who passes, absurdly, by hitting his head on a telephone pole.The novel takes place over the course of the three days of her father’s funeral,as the narrator comes to discover a new side of her fatherin the strangers who come to pay their respects. Though she’d always thought of her father as someone who struggled to stay afloat,she learns that there were people who were able to get surgery or marriedthrough her father’s help, and that his little brother who seemingly hated him all his lifeactually loved him deeply. In this way she comes to see the many different facets to her father,and to look ahead to the future. Father was gone, but snapshots of him were preserved in the hours of someone’s memory, to return vividly to life whenever he was remembered. A wave of longing came over me for the innumerable snapshots of my father that must exist within my own hours.From My Father’s Liberation Journal Sohn: Yara, I think your broken heart must trouble you often. But one thing I dearly hope you’ll rememberis that there is no set timeline for mourning. Everyone inevitably needs a different amount of time to overcome grief,whether that be one year, or ten, or twenty.We hope that with time, your life will begin to fill with quiet joys as your sorrow gradually fades, leaving in its placean abundance of love and beautiful memories. There is no set timeline for grief.Someday the sorrow in your heart will be overtaken by beautiful memories. Kim: Someone once said, “Scars are proof of how much we have loved.And so scars are beautiful things.” We’ll end today’s story on this note, in hopes that these words will be of comfort to Yara. Kim: Book for You— Sohn: A book for you! Bye! Today’s Prescriptions:After Earth Dies, Who Will Moon Orbit? & My Father’s Liberation Journal Translated by Jean Kim

  by Korean Literature Now

• 

  Book for You

  [Book for You] I’ve Received Two Proposals.

  Sohn Jeong-seung(Sohn): Hello! Providing comfort through the medium of books,I’m Sohn Jeong-seung, the book prescriber!  Kim Sanghyuk(Kim): And I’m Kim Sanghyuk, the man who speaks through poems.Sohn: They say that timing is everything in love.You can only fall in love if you both feel the same way at the same time,but the chances of that are slim. Kim: That’s what makes the couples who are in love right now so amazing—they’ve found each other despite those incredible odds. Sohn:  Today’s letter-writer is struggling with just this timing in love.Let’s hear her story. Sarah’s letter to Book for You I was in love with one guy for five years, but no matter how much time passed, I couldn’t confess my feelings. I finally lost hope, even changing jobs because I found it too hard to face him any longer. A coworker in my new workplace proposed to me, but then my previous crush asked to meet. He told me that he’d liked me for years, but hadn’t had the courage to tell me due to his family circumstances. Now that the situation has improved, he wants to marry me. What should I do? Sohn:  There’s a book I’d like to introduce Sarah to that I think is perfect for her situation:Contradictions by the writer Yang Gui-ja, which was first published in 1998and has been beloved by readers ever since.  Sohn: The main character of Contradictions, An Jin-jin, is caught between two men.The first, Kim Jang-u, is an artistic soul,empathetic and thoughtful but poor.The second, Na Yeong-gyu, is well-off and loves Jin-jin deeply,but she is unable to feel what she thinks of as “true love” for him.Yet in truth Jin-jin knows which of the two she should choose for a smooth road ahead,both financially and emotionally. I was really curious. It didn't matter if it was Na Yeong-gyu or Kim Jang-u or somebody else. How and when would I be able to make up my mind and say, "Yes, I will marry him"? How did all those people who are married decide, anyway?From Contradictions Sohn: As Jin-jin’s ultimate choice is the great attraction of this book, I’ll keep that a secret.But I was just thinking— Jin-jin tries to show Jang-u only the best parts of herself,but in front of Yeong-gyu, she ends up showing even what she hides from Jang-u.Jin-jin doubted whether that was love,but I think that’s a form of love as well.In short, I hope you can follow your heart.I think that’s the only way to make a choice you won’t regret.Truthfully, I think that whomever you choose, there’ll be both regret and joy in that decision.I only hope that it’ll be possible to end things with whomever you didn’t choose with certainty and respect.We’ll be supporting you from afar! “Love is something done with the heart, not the head!”   Kim: We’re all faced with the question of love at least once over the course of our lives.I think that in these moments, we must respond with love.Today, I’ve brought with me a poem by Hwang Inchan called “Where Is the Friend's House?”  Yong-su was my friend, we often played together as kidsOut in the alleys all day[. . .]Whenever I met up with Yong-suI lost track of time catching dragonflies and skipping rocksThe day we played hide-and-seek in the sun shower I went back home so that Yong-su wouldn’t find me After that I never saw Yong-su againAnd even now when it rains on a clear day I remember back then Whenever anyone asks me about my first loveI tell them this storyFrom “Where Is the Friend's House?” Kim: The narrator of the poem simply had fun playing with Yong-su,whom they only thought of as a friend, and now doesn’t even know where he is.But looking back on that moment a long way down the road, they confess that was love.I’m very curious about what Sarah’s choice will be as well,but I think what’s most important is that, when it comes to questions about love,simplifying the question—for example, “Who is it that I love?”—and answering it with all our heart is the best any of us can do. “Questions about love should be answered solely with love.”  Sohn: Sometimes, the more complicated the problem,the simpler you need to think to find its answer.I think that’s especially true of matters of the heart. Kim: Hoping this video will have helped Sarah to find her answer,we’ll say goodbye for now.  Kim: Book for You  Sohn: A book for you!  Sohn&Kim: Bye!   Today’s Prescriptions: Contradictions  &  Let’s Say This Is How I Feel 

  by Korean Literature Now

• 

  Book for You

  [Book for You] Over two years, I still can't get over him.

  Sohn Jeong-seung(Sohn): Hello everyone! We’re the book prescribers, providing comfort in your time of need through the medium of books.I’m SohnJeong-seung !  Kim Sanghyuk(Kim): And I’m Kim Sanghyuk, the man who speaks through poems!  Sohn: There are some couples, whether they’re married or just dating, that are so different from each other that they always end up fighting. Kim: That’s right! Our letter-writer today is someone who’s struggling with the same problem.Let’s take a look.   Sohn: Today’s letter comes to us from Phee in Nigeria. Phee’s letter to Book for You We loved each other, but we were always fighting, breaking up, making up, breaking up again… It was exhausting. We’ve been apart for over two years now, but I still can’t seem to get over him. What should I do? Kim:  The reason it’s hard to advise Phee to just forget the past and move on isthat love is like a living organism, and some loves do come back to life.That said, I do want to say that the time and effort you’ve poured into a relationship doesn’t oblige youto stay bound to the past, keeping up a love that only hurts you.The most important thing to remember is that love is not pain.If anything, I think that love is the act of sharing pain to lighten its load.On that note, I’d like to introduce one of my favorite poems: “The Invention of Love,”from the poet Lee Yeong-gwang’s collection The Tree Is Going.  You said that if ever you grew tired of living and living You’d dig a hole in the mountains where nobody goesAnd climb in and lie down and refuse to eat[ . . . ]So shocked was I that like lightning,Like lightning, I had to invent love.From “The Invention of Love ” Kim: I can’t say for sure what Phee’s decision should be, but I think it is worth thinking over at least once whether this is a love that saves one another, or one that only brings pain. The moment true love is invented, our pain disappears.  Kim:  You could say this is the essence of love the poet is writing about.I think that when Lee Yeong-gwang speaks of “the moment love is invented,” he’s referring to a love that saves a life.  Sohn: I once took about five years to let go of a past love myself, so this letter really resonated with me.I thought a lot about which book to recommend to Phee, and I finally settled on the title story “Us” from Tomorrow’s Lovers, a collection of short stories by the writer Jung Young Su. Sohn: The narrator, a former editor, is approached by a couple looking to write a book about their romance. The story follows the narrator and the couple, Jung-eun and Hyeon-su , over the course of their brief acquaintance.Seeing these two as mature adults, the narrator comes to compare their relationship with his own love and is inspired to begin writing a letter to his ex, Yeon-gyeong. Unfortunately, that letter doesn’t come easy. My words were tiptoeing around the point. I had to speak to her directly—not in hollow symbols, but in my own raw voice. But in fact what I realized after I began writing was that, let alone what I wanted to say to Yeon-gyeong, I didn’t even know exactly how I felt about her. From “Us”     Sohn: If you keep dwelling on the past, that can become a habit in itself, even if your ex no longer has an important place in your life. So what I want to say to Phee is that, even if you come to rekindle your love, I hope you’ll take the time to really consider whether this is right for you. The act of recalling the past is neither remembrance nor record,but reinterpretation and reinvention.  Sohn: There’s an incredible twist at the end of “Us,” so I hope you can find your answer as you read the story through.  Kim: Love is important too, but isn’t it true that we learn a lot through breakups? I think that one thing is for sure: farewells help us to grow up, and to grow stronger.  Sohn: We’ve been receiving an amazingly diverse range of personal stories on the theme of “Love.”I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of story will be awaiting us next time.  Kim: Then till next time… Book for You:  Sohn:  A book for you! Sohn&Kim: Bye!  Today’s Prescriptions:The Tree Is Going   &  Tomorrow’s Lovers

  by Korean Literature Now

• 

  Book for You

  [Book for You] Is it a problem that I’m asexual?

  Sohn Jeong-seung(Sohn): We are book prescribers, providing comfort in your time of need through the medium of books. I’m Sohn Jeong-seung. Kim Sanghyuk(Kim): And I’m Kim Sanghyuk. Sohn: Today’s letter is from someone who was faced with rejection from others due to her asexuality, a sexual orientation that hasn’t received a lot of societal attention to date.Kim: This letter comes to us from Egypt, written by UGLY DUCK. UGLY DUCK’s Letter: "Is it a problem that I’m asexual?"   I’ve never once fallen in love, and I’ve been single my whole life.But when I told others that I’m comfortable living this way, I wastold that I seem “not human.” Later I came to realize my identityas an asexual. It’s hard to find a partner without a sexualconnection when sex permeates everything. Do you know of anycases of asexual couples? Sohn: Discussing a kind of love that you’ve never personally experienced is something that needs to be approached with a lot of sensitivity, so this was a tough nut to crack, but who are we? Kim: Kim Sanghyuk.Sohn: And Sohn Jeong-seung, sending comfort through books!Sohn: You don’t know what a relief it was that we managed to find a novel that made us think “Eureka!” This is Bodies and Women, by the writer Lee Seo Su.  Sohn: This book isn’t about an asexual couple,but it is one in which a woman who doesn’t feel sexual desire makes a sole confession in her own words about her body and her sexuality.  Yeongseok, people say that a healthy life is one where you enjoy sex to your heart’s content, but people like me who don’t like sex exist too. To someone like me, words like those feel like a kind of violence[…] I want to use my body as much as I like for meeting up and talking with the people I like, and eating delicious food, and taking in beautiful landscapes, and drinking cool beer, and sleeping soundly, but not for sex[…] If I do have sex, I only want to have it with myself. Because I’m the only person who won’t wound my body, who can guess at the depths of my heart.From Bodies and Women Sohn: The writer speaks through this character to express the idea that creating standards for normality and pressuring someone into liberation is a different kind of oppression. The protagonist says that her existence is not wrong, but different. There’s a line I once read that said, “We read to know we are not alone” (William Nicholson, Shadowlands). I think it would be good for UGLY DUCK to read this book. There are no wrong existences. We are all just different. Kim: Every country is different in its culture, so I don’t think I can speak lightly about this matter, but what I can say for sure is that “living alone” is a personal choice. What we need is a good person we can connect with, not someone we share a bed with. So the book I’ve brought today is a collection of poetry by the poet Park Sang Su, I Won’t Leave You as a Soliloquy.  Walking by the riverside, as my last impulse I make a call, “There are a lot of people here, people who wave their hands or rub their calves against the railing, people who look good for having somewhere to return to, I’m sure there’s someone who’d see me as the same, I don’t often take my pills and I can eat even less” From “Some Things Just Happen”Kim: Looking at the narrator’s situation, she can’t take the medicine she needs to, and she can’t even eat.Under these circumstances, she’s walking by the riverside, and it seems that she’s considering suicide. So she’s in need of someone to comfort her, and she makes this call.   Because some things just happen, because they didn’t happen outof a hate for you, don’t try to punish the world by hurting yourselfanymore, this winter we should share frozen persimmons by thecoal stove. From “Some Things Just Happen”Kim:  This is the reply she receives from the friend who picks up, who consoles her with these words: “No matter how hard things are, don’t try to take revenge on the world by hurting yourself. Let’s share delicious fruit by the warm stove.” If you have someone around you who can offer you comfort like this, I think it would make life worth living, even if you don’t live together. If you have someone by your side you can share comfort with, you’ve already formed a relationship that’s enough. Sohn: This series is about replying to your letters with messages of comfort through books, but this letter especially was a great comfort to us.Kim: Since this is such a great series, we’ll see you again next time with a new letter.Sohn: Book for You-Kim: Book for you!Sohn&Kim: Bye~Today’s Prescriptions:Bodies and Women & I Won’t Leave You as a Soliloquy  

  by Korean Literature Now