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ISBN
9791159097720
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Author
Wonjuhui원주희
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Publisher
Kyobobook Centre교보문고
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Year Published
2022
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Category
Literary Fiction 소설
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Updated: 2026-07-13
- Posted by Kyobobook Centre on 2026-07-09
- Updated by Kyobobook Centre on 2026-07-13
Description 작품 소개
A mystery-romance set in 19th century Korea, The Red Spring follows Prince Suan and the young widow-turned businesswoman Sobong as they uncover the truth behind a series of grisly deaths that have been blamed on Princess Bomyeong, half-sister of Suan. But the murders are more than what they seem, and soon the pair stumble upon a conspiracy that could put the entire kingdom in jeopardy.
The king’s sister Princess Bomyeong, tormented in an abusive marriage, poisons her husband and swears to take revenge on the kingdom for the wrongs she has suffered. Several years later, the king’s half-brother Prince Suan, who is fascinated with serial killers, pretends to be one to capture them himself. His exploits are published in a series of books titled Chronicles of the Comely Gentleman: Righter of Wrongs, which are beloved by women—especially Sobong, a young widow who spends her time running a women’s apparel business.
One day, a nobleman named Song Jungil, brother of the queen, is found murdered with his eyes having been carved out. Princess Bomyeong, whose murder of her husband is whispered of but not confirmed, is fingered as the culprit. Prince Suan is persuaded to take on the case and prove his sister’s innocence, with the new investigator Kang Yongju assigned as his assistant.
Sobong’s business, meanwhile, is booming. Princess Bomyeong and the queen are her regulars, and she is one day invited to the Princess’s estate, where the princess hosts a small society of aristocrats and the wealthy for parties and gambling. Bomyeong is especially gracious with Sobong and teases her, daring her to seduce Prince Suan, who is at the palace as well.
Sobong is instantly smitten with the prince—doubly so when she learns that he is the “Comely Gentleman” hero of her favorite book series. Prince Suan, however, is indifferent, interested only in his case. However, as he uncovers more unsettling information about his half-sister with the help of a common girl named Mari, a serial killer he befriended, he comes to treat Sobong as a collaborator.
Sobong and Suan discover more pieces of the plot, and Suan develops feelings for Sobong, although he is reluctant. However, Kim Honggeon—brother of Bomyeong’s murdered husband—is also found murdered, and at the same time, the eyes of Song Jungil are discovered in Suan’s house, and he is arrested. Sobong goes to see him in prison and befriends Mari; later, Suan is given poison, which he takes willingly so that he can be removed from prison for treatment. His gambit works, and he is taken to the queen, who set up the situation to discuss the case with him without arousing suspicion. Both agree that Bomyeong may be working with Prince Hansan, a younger prince with a stronger claim to the throne. After the exchange, Suan is moved back to his home by the worried king.
As the summer goes on, a terrible drought impacts the kingdom. Suan learns that Bomyeong is gathering a private army, and also hears that unrest is brewing in the streets as Kim Honggeon’s parents plead for justice for their murdered sons. As the drought continues, the public becomes increasingly dissatisfied, and a riot led by Hansan seems about to break out—when a bomb goes off near the parents of Kim Honggeon’s parents, killing them and those in the area. At the same time, fires are started all throughout the city by arsonists.
The fire is extinguished, and Hansan and the arsonists are arrested, but not before the confusion has left many homeless. Sobong learns from her friends that Bomyeong is building what seems to be beacons all around the capital; meanwhile, Bomyeong marches into the royal palace with her army and secures the journals of her father the late king, in which he confesses that he raped his own daughter in a blind and desperate bid to survive his illness.
After the chaos settles, Prince Suan announces an unprecedented event: a public trial. The commoners are not sure what to make of it, but they (including Sobong) attend anyway. On the first day of, Hansan is accused of a series of rapes and murders involving very young girls—and a witness comes forward, revealed to be Mari. Mari’s victims were Hansan’s collaborators. The evidence is convincing, and the public is overjoyed to see a tyrannical prince overthrown.
On the second day of the trial, Suan summons the captured arsonists. They confess their crimes and finger Princess Bomyeong. Sobong, who has been considering the beacons all this time, realizes that their locations are all visible from the palace and are meant to serve as a signal. But just as the trial ends, the queen mother is revealed to have ordered the death of Song Jungil, brother of the queen, and she orders her men to stab Suan.
Suan survives, but just barely. He insists on continuing the trial in spite of his wounds. On the final day of the trials, Bomyeong marches in and decries the crimes of her father. But just before she can execute the next stage of her plan, Sobong intercepts her, revealing that an arsonist had been ready to set the palace on fire with the royal family, their entourage, and the commoners on the premises. Bomyeong’s plot is foiled, and she is arrested. Suan, who is wounded, collapses and confesses his love for Sobong.
Some time later, Bomyeong is executed and peace returns to the land. The queen mother, though not officially punished for the murder of Song Jungil, lives in permanent house arrest and is ignored by her son the king. Sobong has asked the king for an official pardon for Mari, which was granted on account of Sobong saving the country and Mari having mitigating circumstances. Sobong and Suan are now a couple, and the king decides to open the borders so that Joseon might officially establish relations with the outside world.
Author Bio 작가 소개
There are no expectations.