Recent Books

Bleaching

Jang Gang-myeong; Hankyoreh Publishing: 352 pp., 11,000 won

The novel looks into a dark and striking portrait of society depicting youngsters who are drifting for no reason.

The author calls the young generation as the “bleaching” generation as they are forced to be “bleached” for society, which seems to be perfectly white outwardly.

The male protagonist is a university student who returns to the school after completing his military service. He is not satisfied with his university and thinks he should move to a better school for a better life but he does nothing. One day, he gets together with some friends who have earned scholarships with the future looking bright for them. But one of them persuades the others to commit suicide and kills himself to become a pioneering leader among them. After the incident, other friends, including the protagonist, return to their normal lives but accidently encounter each other through a suicide website a few years later.

The story reflects the gloomy social situation in which many young people choose to kill themselves and portrays their agony. It shows the social absurdity of youngsters who commit suicide when they feel successful. The book portrays how young people survive hardships in a murky reality.

— CHUNG AH-YOUNG