Her college days spent on a bench in Anam

Chung enjoyed a campus life that was rich in history and literature. She was often found basking in the sun on a bench outside the College of Liberal Arts building, engrossed in a book. With fervor, she attended literature classes featuring texts from various cultural backgrounds. So enthusiastic was she about these lectures that she postponed her required courses, necessitating an extra semester at school. She recalled, “One day, a student sitting behind me passed me a note, and my heart fluttered with anticipation, as I was thinking, ‘Could this be the start of a romance?’ But when I unfolded the note, it read, ‘I admire your enthusiasm’,” she says, laughing."

Having a particular interest in history and literature from different regions and eras, she discovered her talent lay more in reading and writing than in verbal communication. While many of her friends chose teaching as their career path, Chung charted a different course—she set her sights on the publishing industry. “During teaching demonstrations, I came to the realization that public speaking wasn’t my forte. There’s a world of difference between delivering brief presentations and teaching for four hours a day. Since I preferred reading and writing, it seemed only natural to join a publishing company for my first job.”

“To KU students about to venture into society for the first time, I hope they remain undeterred, even if their first step doesn’t feel satisfying.”

In search of the essence of human beings: A journey into the world of stories

Reflecting on her experiences reading fairy tales to her much younger sibling, she applied for a position in the children’s books department of a publishing company but was instead placed in the Korean literature department. This happenstance marked the beginning of her journey into the creation of stories. “I found creating a Korean literature magazine really fulfilling. During my school days, even the recent literature we studied was from the 1970s. However, after graduation, I had the opportunity to engage with writers who were crafting contemporary literature.”

Fascinated by the contemporary works published by writers such as Kim Ae-ran and Hwang Jung-eun, Chung set out to write herself. While she has explored a variety of subjects and genres since her debut, the core message she seeks to convey always circles back to the essence of human beings. “The nature of human beings is a perpetual theme in my explorations. Whether humans are fundamentally violent or altruistic is a question I’ve always pondered. I haven’t reached a definitive answer yet, but my current thinking is that people who are at odds with the times gradually shape the future.”

Her narratives do not solely explore the inner world, but also extend to numerous individuals and the social structures they inhabit. This is possible because she values the stories of others, regardless of their place and time. “When I was young, I used to visit a dentist across from Sampoong Department Store. I vividly remember eating or buying something on the underground floors of the department store every time I went there. Then, the department store collapsed. Since then, similar incidents have kept recurring. I believe it’s this fear and vigilance about ongoing events—not just those in the past but also in the present—that drives me to write about a society that withstands collapse.”

From Sisun Onward depicts the life of a female artist, and The School Nurse Files narrates the adventures of a school nurse who uses superpowers to combat malignant “jellies”. Of her works, she is most fond of these two. While crisscrossing society with a gaze that is resonant yet imbued with warm and vibrant charm, these stories have firmly established her name among the public. “When I wrote From Sisun Onward, I felt a sense of relaxation, as if I were writing about my family—it felt like something I had been waiting to do. The School Nurse Files was initially planned as a short novel, but due to its positive reception, it was released as a feature story and later adapted into a drama. I have a special affection for these works because they seem to move and live on their own.”

As an “all-rounder” engaged in editing, novel writing, and even screenplay writing, Chung discovered the thrill of adventure. She hopes that KU students will also experience such richness in their pursuits. “While writing novels, dramas, and animations, I’ve realized that the boundaries between adjacent fields can be quite flexible. I’ve learned that it can be beneficial to flow outward and explore within a sense of a broad direction. For KU students taking their first steps into society, I hope they won’t be discouraged even if their initial strides fall short of their expectations.”

Ensuring under-the-radar voices are heard

Chung’s latest book, Seol Ja-eun Returns to Venus, is a historical novel that ranked No. 1 in pre-order sales even before its release, raising expectations about it. Although she had wanted to write it since her debut, it required considerable time to study the social atmosphere of the era portrayed in the work. History, as it was during her college years, remains the lens through which she most comfortably views the world. “I’m interested in what changes over time and what doesn’t. To me, delving into the essence of things through the lens of history is the most suitable approach.”

Believing in the power of books and stories as a medium that is slow and profound, she hopes to create characters with balanced voices in her future work in the Seol Ja-eun series. “With the advancement of digital technology, it often seems that the most provocative voices are the ones heard the most. This is why I’m interested in capturing or reenacting the voices of individuals who are somewhat more nuanced.”

Inspired by the environmental activist Jane Goodall, who recently visited Korea, Chung expressed her aspirations to emulate Goodall’s relentless endeavors with hope and conviction. She voiced her intention to attune herself to the unheard voices in our society. What hue will Chung’s next narrative display? Let’s look forward to how she will shed light on overlooked aspects of our community.