South Korean author Lee Hee-joo is challenging the gentle narrative trends of contemporary Korean literature with her provocative new story collection "Creamy(nal) Love," published by Munhakdongne Publishing. The eight-story collection delves deep into the disturbing psychology of obsessive love and forbidden desire, offering readers an unflinching look at the darker aspects of human affection and fan culture.

Lee's literary approach stands in stark contrast to much of the South Korean fiction that has gained international attention in recent years. While many translated Korean works have focused on science fiction or what literary critics describe as "healing fiction" - gentle, empathetic narratives that capture quiet moments of everyday life - Lee has deliberately chosen a more unsettling path. Her work consistently explores distorted desire and examines the psychological chaos that obsessive love leaves in its wake.

Since making her literary debut in 2016 with "Phantom Pain," a novel exploring a fan's all-consuming devotion to an idol, Lee has established herself as a fearless chronicler of fandom psychology. Her exploration of these themes continued with her second novel, "Holy Boy," published in 2021, which follows the kidnapping of a K-pop idol. The success of "Holy Boy" has attracted significant international attention, earning Lee a major advance from prestigious publishers HarperCollins and Pan Macmillan for English-language editions, with additional translations planned for release in Brazil, Italy, and France next year.

The stories in "Creamy(nal) Love" showcase Lee's willingness to venture into taboo territory with unflinching honesty. One of the collection's award-winning pieces, "My Idol's Child," presents the disturbing tale of a hardcore fan who purchases her favorite idol's sperm to conceive his baby, viewing both the act and the resulting child as extensions of her obsessive devotion - essentially treating the baby as merchandise. This story exemplifies Lee's ability to expose the extreme lengths to which obsessive love can drive individuals.

Another prize-winning story in the collection, "Apple and Ringo," shifts focus from fan obsession to familial dysfunction, portraying the complex relationship between two sisters caught in a destructive cycle. The story follows dutiful Sara, who bears the weight of family responsibility, and her aimless sister Saya, as they navigate their intertwined feelings of resentment and affection. Through this sibling dynamic, Lee explores how love and hatred can become inextricably linked within family relationships.

Lee's work provides a critical examination of contemporary Korean society, particularly the intense culture surrounding K-pop and celebrity worship. By focusing on the psychological toll of obsessive behavior, her stories serve as a dark mirror to the seemingly glamorous world of Korean entertainment culture, revealing the potential for devotion to transform into something deeply troubling and destructive.