I am an editorial writer at The Korea Times, focusing on foreign policy, North Korea and domestic politics. My key areas of interest include North Korea, foreign interference in elections, election integrity, cyberattacks and human rights. Prior to joining the Editorial Board, I served as both Politics Desk editor and Culture Desk editor. During my career, I have reported on the Presidential Office under the Lee Myung-bak administration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Assembly.
'Sakha Mansion' portrays modern-time untouchables
Cho Nam-ju, author of the international best-seller “Kim Ji-young Born in 1982,” speaks during a news conference for new book “Sakha Mansion” at the Press Center in Seoul, Tuesday. / Courtesy of Minumsa Publishing Group
By Kang Hyun-kyung
Best-selling author Cho Nam-ju unveils new fiction
By Kang Hyun-kyung
Cho Nam-ju, author of the international best-seller “Kim Ji-young Born in 1982,” has released her much-anticipated new book “Sakha Mansion” dealing with her signature topic of the marginalized people struggling to assimilate into society.
The title of her new fiction was derived from the namesake Russian Far Eastern Sakha Republic. The science fiction story revolves around the death of Soo, an upper-class woman who was in love with a modern-time untouchable man, Do-kyung, before she died. The police conclude Soo was murdered, and consider boyfriend Do-kyung to be a prime suspect.
“Sakha is maybe the toughest region for people to live in because of its severe weather conditions,” Cho said during a news conference for the book at the Press Center in central Seoul, Tuesday. “Its lowest temperature of the year hits below minus 70 degrees Celsius, whereas the highest annual temperature is over 30 degrees. Interestingly, about 50 percent of the world's diamonds are believed to be mined in the region. I chose Sakha for the title of my new book because it best represents the topic that I dealt with.”
Before Sakha was chosen, Cho said she changed the title several times because her publisher wanted a figurative, symbolic one that could capture her story.
In “Sakha Mansion,” Soo and Do-kyung represent two different social classes living in the fictional city state. Soo is a resident of a housing complex called Town inhabited by various upper-class, privileged people who lead luxurious lifestyles, whereas Do-kyung is from the lowest social class. He and his sister found a hideout in Sakha Mansion after they were falsely accused of murdering a man in their home country. Sakha Mansion is an enclave where undocumented immigrants and marginalized people reside.
In the fictional city state, there is one more social class ― those who work for the people in Town. These people are low-paid laborers. They are legal residents and are allowed to live there for two years.
Because of the similarities in circumstances, Sakha people in Cho's new fiction remind readers of refugees.
Cho said she didn't try to focus on refugees, noting her definition of Sakha is broader than that.
“I think it's reasonable if someone links Sakha people to refugees. Refugees could be part of Sakha but I used Sakha to refer to various groups of minorities. People who are not part of the mainstream are Sakha. In the book, women, elderly citizens, children and sexual minorities are part of Sakha,” she said.
Cho said her focus is consistent with her previous books because she has been dealing with the minorities.
“The message that I wanted to deliver through this book is that minorities may be seen as being powerless but they try to make a difference for a better future,” the author said.
“Sakha Mansion” is Cho's fourth book.
Beginning in March 2012, she said it took nearly seven years to finish her book. She likens herself to an artist who continues to repaint to improve her work.
As an author, Cho said she tried to send a certain message to society as well as her readers through her book and being readable is not her prime focus.
She said the success of her previous book “Kim Ji-young” helped her build confidence that as an author she could change the world. “I was told many times that it's hard for authors or books to change the world. After the success of my previous book, however, I found hope that we, authors, can make a difference,” she said.
Kim rose to international fame for “Kim Ji-young” which tells the story of an ordinary housewife on a career break and her struggles for gender equality both in her prior career and at home.
Published in 2016, the book became a best-seller in Korea and has sold over 1 million copies as the publication coincided with the rise of the feminist movement here. The book has been translated into Japanese and Chinese and became a best-seller in Japan and Taiwan.