Kwak Yeon-soo is a digital editor at The Korea Times creating, editing and curating digital content for the newspaper’s website, mobile app and social media. She previously covered a diverse array of cultural, political and business topics.
INTERVIEW Mirinae Lee's '8 Lives of a Century-Old Trickster' offers fresh perspective on Korean history
Mirinae Lee, author of "8 Lives of a Century-Old Trickster" / Courtesy of Mirinae Lee
By Kwak Yeon-soo
HONG KONG — Mirinae Lee is one of only a few writers from Korea who publish their work in English rather than Korean. This choice isn’t about reaching a larger readership, but rather about the way the language works better as a literary device for her, explained Lee, the author of "8 Lives of a Century-Old Trickster."
“For a long time, I thought it would be almost impossible for a non-native speaker to write a novel in a foreign language,” she said. “I started writing the story in Korean, but it didn’t work very well. When I switched to English, however, it worked instantly.”
Lee graduated from university with a major in English literature in the United States and has lived in Hong Kong for 12 years.
Her debut novel, which hit stores in the U.K. in May 2023 and Hong Kong a month later, follows the life of a Korean woman spanning several tumultuous periods in history, including the Japanese colonization of Korea (1910-45), the Korean War (1950-53) and the Cold War (1947-91).
The narrative weaves together eight separate yet interconnected stories, presenting an unnamed protagonist who claims to have been a slave, an escape artist, a murderer, a terrorist, a spy, a lover and a mother.
Excerpts of Lee’s novel appeared in literary journals including Meridian, Antioch Review and Black Warrior Review, eventually catching the eye of a literary agent. The book received good reviews and Lee ended up signing with eight different publishers around the world.
“I feel very lucky and grateful,” Lee said. “The Italian and Danish editions will be available in a few months with the Korean edition aiming for a release early next year.”
Lee had always dreamed of becoming a fiction writer, but she did not think it would become a profession. She was in her mid-to-late 20s when the idea surfaced again. It was in Paris, inspired by a friend who declared she would become “one of the greatest writers of all time,” that Lee decided to pursue her dream again.
“I thought to myself, ‘Wow. If she does that, why can’t I at least try? I have nothing to lose except time,’” she said. Lee began work on her debut novel in 2017 and finished it in 2021.
Cover of "8 Lives of a Century-Old Trickster" by Mirinae Lee / Courtesy of Harper Collins
‘A bit violent’ protagonist
Mirinae Lee, author of "8 Lives of a Century-Old Trickster" / Courtesy of Mirinae Lee
"8 Lives of a Century-Old Trickster" was inspired by Lee’s great aunt, one of the oldest women to escape alone from North Korea. She died two years ago.
“She was such a unique person. She went through a lot of events mentioned in the book. She survived Japanese colonialism, the Korean War and North Korea’s Great Famine and escaped North Korea by herself in her 60s,” Lee said.
Lee's portrayal of her great aunt is not just a tribute to her resilience but also a reflection of her vibrant storytelling.
“She’s had such a turbulent and tragic life, but at the same time, she was very vivacious and a great storyteller. However, she didn’t give detailed stories about how she escaped because she left her two children and husband in North Korea. Families of defectors are sometimes punished harshly.”
During her research, the writer talked to several North Korean defectors and one of the novel’s anecdotes, in which the protagonist’s daughter hides a video of South Korean content during an inspection, is based on a true event.
“I hung out a lot with young North Korean defectors and, from time to time, they told me things they experienced,” she said, explaining how the experience added a layer of authenticity to her writing.
With "8 Lives of a Century-Old Trickster," Lee aims to offer a fresh perspective on the Korean diaspora in literature, creating a protagonist who defies stereotypes.
“I wanted to create a weird grandmother type who has a side that’s a bit violent. Also, my novel is not [read] in chronological order. Each chapter is like a movie of its own,” she explained.
The novel's potential for adaptation into a film is currently being discussed in both Hollywood and Korea.
“I spoke to a few film producers in Hollywood, but our talks came to a halt because of the Hollywood strike. I’ve also talked briefly with several filmmakers in Korea, but the Korean edition is not out yet. Everyone tells me finding a good director is the most important thing,” Lee said.
Lee is now working on her second novel, tentatively titled "Empire of V," drawing inspiration from true stories of rescued dogs in Korea.
“I was inspired by a Korean television show, ‘There is No Such Thing as a Bad Dog.’ I imagined a dog trainer who grew up under a father who owned a puppy farm. She’s doing the opposite of what her father was doing. As the book progresses, there will be more about daughter and father,” she said.
When asked about the most memorable writing advice has ever received, Lee said, “I have to find my ideal readers. We all have different preferences and writing styles. It’s not a matter of good taste or bad taste. So I need to find readers who understand my work and listen to their opinions.”