Kim JiYoung, Born 1982, by Cho Nam-Joo

Genre: Fiction, Feminism, Contemporary, Asian Literature

First published: 2016, first published in English in 2020

Length: 163 pages

Language: Originally published in Korean

Setting: South Korea

This is the story of a South Korean woman’s whole life, told from the perspective of her (male) psychiatrist that she is sent to after she has a break down. It is important to note that we never hear Kim’s voice, thoughts or wishes. Although Kim JiYoung is a fictional woman, this book is clearly a highly researched, angry, and chilling feminist social commentary about gender in modern day South Korea. The author references multiple sources throughout the book showing evidence for things along the way, which is a constant and important reminder that this is really happening today. Kim’s whole life is policied by men, and everything from her name, her national register number, her school uniform and her job roles are reminders that she is a woman, and therefore secondary to men.

This was the first book I ever read that made me truly furious and upset - and yet I wish everybody would read this book, especially people who think feminism is redundant today in ‘progressive’ countries. I am so glad that I read it, despite it’s short length its still one of the most powerful books I have ever read.