Novelist Jang Ryujin's First Essay "The Spring of My Life Is Now... I Have Come to Believe in Myself"

Jang Ryujin's First Essay "The Season We Shine"
Everyday Happiness Found on a Trip to Finland with a Friend
Capturing Life as Honestly as "Fresh Strawberry Juice"
Confessing a Longstanding Anxiety of Being Disliked by Others
On Literary Criticism: "It Bothers Me, But I Have Learned to Believe in Myself with Composure"

Novelists are often described as people who deliberately push their protagonists into extreme situations and then capture the pain they feel within those moments. Through protagonists struggling with life's dilemmas, readers find comfort and empathy, as well as draw courage and insight. However, not all novels are heavy all the time. There is certainly a perspective that joyfully and pleasantly captures life from the viewpoint of love (愛) and pleasure (樂). Jang Ryujin, a novelist who rose to literary prominence in 2018 with the short story "The Joy and Sorrow of Work" and is recognized as a "hyperrealism" (extreme realism) writer, is such a presence. Like anyone else, she endures the somewhat heavy weight of life but consistently exudes a cheerful atmosphere. When I met the author on the 4th at Millie's Library in Hapjeong-dong, Seoul, she never lost her smile throughout the interview and occasionally moved her body to create a lively mood. This was her first face-to-face interview with the press after publishing the essay "The Season We Shine" (Originals).

Q. You have released your first essay. I heard you hesitated to accept essay proposals before.

A. Humans are beings that change, but I thought that once written in a book, things tend to become fixed. I felt a great burden in fixing and revealing my own story.

Q. Essays must have been quite different from novels in many ways. What are your thoughts?

A. First of all, I think I did well to write it. At first, I thought it would be easy to just write about the trip, but when I actually tried, it was harder than writing a novel. In novels, if you don’t like something, you can change the characters and settings, but with essays, you can’t change that, and even though I adapted some parts, it was still very difficult. I regretted it a lot. (laughs)

Q. The descriptions in the book are so vivid that I thought you recorded everything in detail from the start, but you didn’t plan to write the essay before the trip, right?

A. Actually, many parts were adapted. When I wrote it later, I wondered, "Did I really say that back then?" Every word in quotation marks became doubtful. But at some point, I threw off that burden. Thinking of it as a novel character, the dialogue came out more comfortably.

Q. This essay highlights relationships through travel, but above all, it seems to honestly reveal Jang Ryujin herself. You must have pondered how much and to what extent to be honest about yourself.

A. I have written many stories about people my age in the first person, and many people think those are my stories, but that’s not true. I think the real me is in my novels as much as strawberries are in strawberry milk (0% content). But essays are different. They are like a latte with fresh strawberry juice. Of course, some adaptation is involved, but I thought it had to be honest. Instead, I used my own skills in expression.

Q. It seems you delved deeply into psychology to understand yourself. You said you had anxiety from a young age, fearing someone might suddenly dislike you.

A. I had anxiety inside since I was young, but in my mid-30s, after receiving psychological counseling, I understood the theory and realized, "This is a pattern." I was able to accept the situation. To avoid stress, exploring theory rationally is called a defense mechanism in psychology. As I mentioned in the book, I met quite a few people in social life who showed affection in front but said different things behind my back. The fear of social life... That’s why I feel more comfortable with friends.

Q. You revealed criticism of your work and the wounds it caused. Quite some time has passed since your first work, but it seems this has been an ongoing concern. Fortunately, you seem to have found your own answer. Could you share more about that process?

A. I write within the category of pure literature. I debuted by winning a literary award from a literary publisher. "The Joy and Sorrow of Work" was even included in textbooks. However, many people seem angry that my novels fall within the pure literature category. I haven’t done anything wrong, but sometimes I feel as if I’ve committed a crime. I get restless for no reason... But there are more people who praise me, so now I don’t care about whether it’s literature or not. Honestly, criticism bothers me, but since there is more praise, I decided to just let it go. (laughs) I have come to believe in myself with composure.

Q. Have you received advice from senior writers in the literary world?

A. Not really. I was worried that complaining might be seen as whining since my works were doing well, winning awards, and receiving praise.

Q. Jang Ryujin’s works consistently have a bright and cheerful feeling. Was this intentional or a natural expression of your personality?

A. It wasn’t intentional, but personally, I like that feeling. Stories dealing with life’s dilemmas are necessary, but there are also people who need the opposite kind of story. Just as Pyongyang naengmyeon and Hamheung naengmyeon each have their unique flavors, that’s the flavor I bring.

Q. When was the most difficult time in your life?

A. Around the time I returned from being an exchange student in Finland, I thought, "The good times are over now." I think I was a pessimistic child then. I thought I would never have such happiness and leisure again. I believed I had to live in competition, and in 2008, the US financial crisis worsened my family’s situation. I felt like I was on the edge as a job seeker.

Q. In your work, Finnish people have great anticipation for summer, probably because they endure harsh winters. Has such a season come in your life?

A. Personally, I like spring. And I think now is the spring of my life. Even if someone offered me youth again, I would never want to go back. (laughs) I am living by building the family I want, doing what I love, and making a living from what I’m good at. I feel great happiness when readers enjoy my work.

Q. What is your daily routine like?

A. I wake up in the morning, brew coffee, eat a sandwich, and sit at my desk. Then I write until I get hungry, usually until around 4 or 5 p.m. It’s a bit early, but I have dinner then and spend the rest of the time on myself. I exercise and read.

Q. Jang Ryujin’s works are praised for being easy to read. Is your writing process smooth as well?

A. Many people think that since my works read well, I must write them all at once, but that’s not true. I revise a lot. I agonize even over changing a single particle.

Q. You said you want to be a funny and entertaining person. Can we understand that as someone who finds great joy in providing cheerful fun to others?

A. I personally like humor. I want to give readers fun and laughter. Whether the narrative is a comedy or tragedy, I hope readers feel "That was fun" when they close the book.

Q. The short story "Tampere Airport" was rejected several times in contests but is now recognized as the most beloved story by readers. What would you say to readers struggling with such gaps in various moments of life?

A. I hope you believe in the virtue of the newness you possess.