It’s sold over a million copies worldwide, but what is this Cho Nam-joo novel about and does it make for a good read?

More than ever, novels are becoming globally accessible, with stories from hundreds of languages and cultures being translated to readers in other countries. South Korea is no exception, with books being transported overseas especially thanks to the development of BookTok and Bookstagram.

One such novel is Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 by author Cho Nam-joo. But what is the book about? And is it worth the hype?

Synopsis: a life in doctor’s notes

Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 is a biographical fiction book, following the life journey of the titular protagonist Kim Jiyoung. After a psychotic episode in which she impersonates numerous women close to her personal life, both dead and alive, Jiyoung visits a psychiatrist. Here, she recounts her movement from her youth to her life as an office worker, mother, and woman living in South Korea. 

Told via “a chilling, eerily truncated third-person voice” through the eyes of the interpreting doctor, the reader observes Jiyoung’s experiences: everything from childhood sexism to discrimination in the workplace. Whilst some examples are more extreme, Cho Nam-joo also works to shine a light on the more subtle evidence of everyday sexism experienced by women in South Korea.

Themes: exposing the gender crisis in South Korea

This focus on misogyny in a South Korean context is the primary theme of the book, addressing the topic in a way that is both refreshing and yet painfully familiar to many readers. Despite this recognition, the novel has the capacity to be eye-opening and controversial, particularly in the context of Korea’s notorious anti-feminist stances.

Many celebrity figures, politicians, and citizens have been criticised for their outspoken (or even subtle) feminist leanings; this has even included the reading of Kim Jiyoung, as seen in the case of girl group Red Velvet’s Irene who was met with rage from numerous male fans. 

The recent election of the right-wing Yoon Suk-yeol as South Korean president also sparked controversy outside of the country.

Amongst numerous controversies, concern also stemmed from Yoon’s condemnation of the feminist movement and his initial proposal to remove the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family in the governmental body.  Such brash anti-feminist sentiments are an indication of wider misogynistic beliefs in the country, and many young Korean women expressed their fear of what was to come:

“The major parties, especially the Conservative party, didn’t shy away from using misogyny as a political tactic.”

— Choi Jieun, South Korean journalist quoted in The Guardian 

“Women say they worry that the anti-feminist language used by such high profile figures will normalize the movement and further marginalize women in South Korea.”

— ‘How South Korea’s Yoon Suk-yeol Capitalized on Anti-Feminist Backlash to Win the Presidency’ for TIME Magazine

Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 is therefore courageous in its bold discussion of women’s issues — particularly everyday sexism.

The book also contains a fascinating exploration of the multiple roles of women in society; Jiyoung progresses from her youth (obliged to be subservient), to a young woman in the working world (subjected to gender-based recruiting discrimination), to a potential mother (forced to choose between her career and her family in ways that her male colleagues and husband do not even have to consider).

Conclusion: is Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 any good?

Whilst the story of the novel isn’t particularly dramatic and lacks the peaks and falls that would perhaps come with a fantasy or crime story, this is exactly the point Cho Nam-joo intends to make. Women’s oppression, both in Korea and globally, isn’t always violent, large-scale, or loud. Often it’s the small digs, the subtleties in language or treatment that impact women’s day-to-day life.

Cho provides a quietly powerful insight into the life of just one working class Korean woman, highlighting the importance of both intersectional feminism (applying understandings of class and race as well as gender to inequality) and individuality. The life of one woman and her personal experiences with misogyny are just as important as more broadly-affecting sexist policies, ideologies and actions.

The novel is ironically short thanks to the narrative perspective of the psychiatrist, who (even as the storyteller) cuts Jiyoung’s life-tale into digestible pieces. Whilst this is great for readers who are after just a few hundred pages to make their way through, Cho makes this indicative of women’s silence and their struggles.

These issues are bolstered throughout the book with statistical truths to remind the reader that the issues presented in Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 are in no way fabricated or fantastical, and should sit with you long after you turn the final page.

Edited by Abby White