REVIEW: Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-Joo

Korean-ience Store Woman

KIM JIYOUNG, BORN 1982 by Cho Nam-Joo Published on 20th February 2020 by Simon & Schuster

I’m a sucker for translated fiction, particularly from/about East Asia, and after devouring Convenience Store Woman earlier this year, I’ve developed a particular fondness for short, direct and slightly quirky fiction. Given all this, Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 seems perfect for me. A Korean bestseller about an ordinary Korean woman living in late 20th/early 21st century Korean society? I’m sold.

The book itself does not disappoint. Set largely chronologically, the book tells Jiyoung’s story until her mid-30s, largely focused on the issue of sexism and gender imbalance in Korea. From her role within her family (a younger brother always receives prominence due to their gender) to her time at school, in higher education, the workplace and in marriage and homemaking, its an eye-opening look at how gender defines so much of what’s available and expected of a person in Korean culture and society. Footnotes, used to reference statistics throughout, help to tell this story and make it feel incredibly real and powerful, despite being fiction.

There do seem moments of progress throughout, but one of the real masterworks of the novel is the way that throughout progress seems to slowly, but surely, be made, until the concluding few chapters issue a gut punch which serve as a painful reminder of how much is left to change.

Part of the joy comes from the fact that Jiyoung is a very ordinary woman. There’s nothing particularly extra special about her, her situation and her story, but as a window into another culture it’s a very powerful tale and drives home how commonplace many of these issues still are in society (worldwide).

Would totally recommend as an eye-opening, very enjoyable and sharp novel, perfect for fans of Convenience Store Woman, that can be devoured in an afternoon, but left to consider for far longer.

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I received an advanced review copy via NetGalley, in exchange for an unbiased, honest review. Thanks to Simon & Schuster for approving my request.