Introduction

Kim Ji-young born 1982 by South Korean author, Cho Nam Joo has become a cultural touchstone for Chinese readers looking to explore the world of women writers. The book follows Kim as she struggles with gender inequality, discrimination, and societal pressure but is fortunate enough to have a considerate husband and an understanding mother. Renfei, a senior editor at the Beijing-based Sheeran Books, who was responsible for publishing the translated book in China in 2019, says that for many starting out into the genre, Cho's seminal work is merely the beginning.