Kim Ji-young, Born 1982

Kim Ji-young, Born 1982 (Korean: 82년생 김지영) is a fiction novel by Cho Nam-joo. A former scriptwriter for TV programs, Cho took two months to write the story as according to her, the title character "Kim Ji-young's life isn't much different from the one I have lived. That's why I was able to write so quickly without much preparation." Published by Minumsa in October 2016, it has sold more than 1 million copies as of 27 November 2018, becoming the first million-selling Korean novel since Shin Kyung-sook's Please Look After Mom in 2009.[1][2]

Kim Ji-young, Born 1982
English version cover
AuthorCho Nam-joo
CountrySouth Korea
LanguageKorean
GenreNovel
PublisherMinumsa
Publication date
October 2016
Media typeHardcover
Pages192
ISBN9788937473135

Plot

The story-line centres on a housewife who becomes a stay-at-home mother and later suffers from depression. It focuses on the everyday sexism the title character experiences from youth.[1][2][3]

Reception

The book gained attention in early 2017 after readers posted reviews of the book on social media. In May 2018, after the floor leader of the Justice Party's Roh Hoe-chan gifted the book to President Moon Jae-in with a message that read "Please embrace 'Kim Ji-young Born '82'", the book's sales shot up. It has sold more than 1 million copies as of November 2018.[2] But despite the novel's popularity and timely message on sexism in Korea,[4] controversy still arose when Red Velvet member Irene shared during a fan meet[5] that she had read Kim Ji-Young. Male fans began berating the K-pop idol, going as far as burning and cutting up Irene's photos.[6][7]

In 2020, the novel became longlisted for the U.S. National Book Award for Translated Literature[8] and the French Emile Guimet Prize for Asian Literature.[9] As of 2020, the novel was translated into 12 languages.[8]

Film adaptation
Main article: Kim Ji-young: Born 1982 (film)

The book was adapted into a film with Jung Yu-mi and Gong Yoo taking the lead roles. The shooting took place in early 2019 and it was released on October 23 of the same year.[10][11][12]

References
  1. I'm, Eun-byel (28 November 2018). "[Newsmaker] Feminist book 'Kim Ji-young, Born 1982' becomes million seller". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  2. Shin, Joon-bong (6 September 2017). "Bringing to light the subtle sexism in modern Korea: Cho Nam-joo's book reflects the discrimination many women face daily". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  3. "A look into a Korean feminist novel: Kim Ji Young, Born 1982 (2016". dramasrok.com. 7 November 2017. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  4. "The Banality of Sexism: Kim Ji-young, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-Ju". Korean Literature Now (in Korean). Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  5. "Red Velvet's Irene read a feminist book and her male fans are extremely mad online". Asian Junkie. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  6. Herald, The Korea (27 March 2018). "[Feature] Feminist novel becomes center of controversy in South Korea". www.koreaherald.com. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  7. "Red Velvet's Irene read a feminist book and her male fans are extremely mad online". Asian Junkie. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  8. "Korean Novel Longlisted for Prestigious U.S. Literary Prize". Chosun Ilbo. 22 September 2020. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  9. "Korean Hit Novel Longlisted for French Literary Award". Chosun Ilbo. 14 July 2020. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  10. Jeong, Ju-won (13 September 2018). "Jung Yu-mi cast in 'Kim Ji Young, Born 1982'". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  11. "Kim Ji-young, Born 1982: Feminist film reignites tensions in South Korea". BBC. 23 October 2019. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  12. "'Kim Ji-young, Born 1982' tops box office". The Korea Times. 25 October 2019. Retrieved 27 September 2020.

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