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In this novel by Chang KangMyeong, journalist and writer, we discover the life of Kyena, a young twenty-seven-year-old employee who decides overnight to leave her native country of Korea for an unknown country, Australia. What does she know about this island in Oceania? Nothing, except that life there seems more peaceful and less oriented towards constant competition.
Does she speak English? Very little. She uses "Konglish" terms, English words whose pronunciation has been adjusted to the Korean language. However, it is almost without glancing behind her that she leaves everything: friends, love, and family. The novel opens with her breaking up with her boyfriend, JiMyeong, while she is at the airport, ready for her first trip overseas. For Kyena, goodbyes are simple, devoid of pain and feeling. She is almost relieved to leave. Her reason? Because she hates Korea.
Note: This novel is only available in Korea, French, and Spanish. However, we thought its insight into Korean society was interesting enough to provide you with this article. Therefore, the quotations are translated by us.
About the author and the novel
DLKL
Born in 1975 in Seoul, Chang KangMyeong was a columnist for eleven years for a major daily before starting to write fiction. From his career as a journalist, he has kept a factual writing style that he puts at the service of current issues that agitate Korean society. The insight and analytical finesse of his approach have made the success of his novels. Due to his numerous literary awards, Chang KangMyeong became a well-known author in Korea.
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