Korean author Kim Ji-yeon's novel "The Things that Go By" has been awarded the Fiction Grand Prize at the 56th Modern Korean Literature Translation Awards. The work, translated by Diana Akhmetova, tells a poignant story of loneliness, connection, and the search for belonging in contemporary Korea.
The novel follows the narrator's journey through isolation in a small town after experiencing a series of life-changing events. The protagonist, Park Misoo, encounters Youngkyung through a dating app after struggling with repeated failed connections and abandonments by those closest to her. The story explores themes of LGBTQ+ identity, rural isolation, and the challenges of forming meaningful relationships in modern society.
In the opening passage, the narrator reflects on how "Youngkyung appeared only after everything else had already passed." The protagonist describes the exhausting process of meeting people through dating apps, where most conversations end abruptly or planned meetings never materialize. Living in what she calls a "backwater town," the narrator finds herself increasingly isolated as the few LGBTQ+ people she knew have moved to Seoul, seeking better opportunities and acceptance.
The novel vividly captures the protagonist's sense of abandonment following a cascade of life events that occurred within just two years of reaching adulthood. These included her mother's remarriage, her grandmother's funeral, her father's relocation to the Philippines, the birth of her niece, academic probation, taking a leave of absence that was essentially an escape, her best friends moving to Seoul, and being ghosted by her ex-girlfriend Jaeyeong.
Describing her emotional state, the narrator compares herself to "a duck egg drifting down the Nakdong River." She describes the profound loneliness of returning home after late shifts at a barbecue restaurant to an empty house that "everyone else had abandoned," where turning on the lights gave her "the strange sense of being caught in the act of being alone."
The pivotal meeting with Youngkyung takes place at a playground halfway between their neighborhoods. The narrator chooses to walk the thirty-minute journey, wanting time to prepare herself mentally. She discovers Youngkyung sitting alone on a seesaw, pushing against the ground with her feet in a rhythmic motion. The narrator circles the playground's boxwood hedge, observing from a distance while pretending to look for the entrance.
Kim Ji-yeon's detailed description of this first encounter reveals the narrator's internal conflict between hope and fear of rejection. She notes that Youngkyung "wasn't my type at all" with her short, jet-black hair that was neither permed nor dyed, smaller stature than expected, and slender frame. The narrator initially considers leaving but stops herself, remembering all the people who had similarly observed her from afar and decided not to show up.
The author uses striking imagery to describe Youngkyung's appearance, comparing her clasped hands to a praying mantis, enhanced by her long, slender limbs and green shirt - "the kind of color I would never have chosen for myself, the kind that makes you wonder who would buy it in the first place." This observation reflects the narrator's attempt to lower her expectations, reminding herself that she's seeking friendship rather than romance.
Their initial interaction is marked by awkwardness and tentative connection. Despite agreeing via text to speak informally, the narrator finds herself tongue-tied when face-to-face, while Youngkyung speaks without hesitation. They move to the swings, where they sit side by side, "swinging slowly without saying much, occasionally trading shy smiles."
The narrative takes an introspective turn as the protagonist watches Youngkyung swing higher than expected, triggering memories of her ex-girlfriend Jaeyeong. This moment reveals the narrator's lingering confusion about their relationship's end, as Jaeyeong had simply stopped communicating after moving to Seoul, never officially ending their three-year relationship that began in high school. The narrator recalls Jaeyeong's last words about going to Seoul together because she "couldn't live here anymore," and her own response asking for patience.
Translator Diana Akhmetova has captured the novel's contemplative tone and the protagonist's voice, which blends vulnerability with resilience. The work offers insights into LGBTQ+ experiences in rural Korea, where limited community and social acceptance create additional layers of isolation. The story resonates with universal themes of human connection while addressing specific challenges faced by sexual minorities in conservative, small-town environments.
"The Things that Go By" stands out for its honest portrayal of the dating app culture and the particular difficulties LGBTQ+ individuals face in areas with sparse populations. The novel's exploration of how people cope with abandonment and seek new connections despite repeated disappointments offers a nuanced view of modern relationships and the persistence of hope despite adversity.
