“The children of that time would already have grown into adults. Just as my childhood faded without a sound, my youth also slipped away before I even noticed. Am I now facing a world stripped of warmth, bleeding more completely than I ever have? But you, too, have a hand in the making of this cold world. Children, where are you now? What has become of you, and what future lies ahead? Even if this world is one vast ice house, please hold close the ice house of your childhood, where, if you looked closely within the ice, clear water seemed to flow and green blades of grass grew…” (“Eoreumjip” [“Ice House”], Chorokbit Moja [A Green Hat]. Munhakdongne Publishing Corp., 2021)

Kim Chae-won is a novelist whose works explore the hidden meanings of life and portray the emotional complexity of women in an ethereal atmosphere through a writing style that delves into life and the inner self.

1. Life

Kim Chae-won was born in Deokso, Gyeonggi Province in 1946 and graduated from Ewha Womans University with a degree in painting. She began her literary career with the publication of “Meon Bada” (“Faraway Sea”) and “Bam Insa” (“Night Greeting”) in Hyundae Munhak in 1974 and 1975, respectively, on the recommendation of Hwang Sun-won. She lived abroad for six years, from 1972 to 1978, in various major cities around the world. In 1972, she moved to Tokyo and took a language course at Waseda University while working part-time, and in 1973, she worked as an art teacher at Tokyo Korean School while also attending a course for foreigners at Tokyo University of the Arts for a year. In 1975, she left for New York where her sister, Kim Jiwon, lived, and the following year, she moved to Paris, where she painted and wrote novels. A study on Kim’s sense of placelessness argues that her movement across countries is linked to the fact that her home in Dongsung-dong, which frequently appears in her recollections of the past, is the site of the tragic incident of her father’s abduction to North Korea. Her novella, Gyeourui Hwan (Winter of Illusion), received the Yi Sang Literary Award in 1989, and was praised for its depiction of “the fateful loneliness of human beings and the inevitable futility of life.” In 2016, Kim won the Hyundae Munhak Award for her short story “Bereullin Pil” (“Berlin Phil”) and in the same year, received the Equality Literary Award for her short story collection Jjokbaeui Norae (The Song of a Little Boat), which was noted for “vividly bringing to life the rich meaning and inner depth embedded in each scene that shapes our lives.”

2. Writing

Through war, national division, and family separation, Kim examines the existential meaning of womanhood. She has steadily published works since her literary debut in the mid-1970s and is regarded, alongside Oh Jung Hee, So Young-en, and Kang Sok-kyung, as a post-war coming-of-age novelist. Her fiction constructs a surrealist framework of perception in order to create new forms of relationships that break away from the severed bonds produced by material civilization and patriarchy. Her works are marked by experimental narrative deconstruction, fragmented structure, and the absence of conventional plot. Her writing also often reflects her personal experiences, central themes and settings including the abduction of her father, Kim Dong-hwan, to North Korea; the Korean War; family separation in a divided country; and complex familial circumstances.

Kim’s earlier works evoke childhood scenes through sensory detail, offering glimpses into her early life. In particular, “Eoreumjip” (“Ice House”) and Gyeourui Hwan (Winter of Illusion) are more autobiographical in nature, including details about her mother, Choe Chung-hui, and experiences of taking refuge. During this period, mother and daughter relationships are prominent in her novels, and the imbalance within the family structure, where the daughter seeks to distant herself from her mother in the absence of her father, suggests an ongoing concern with division and family separation. In this way, Kim expresses the experience of national division, closely tied to her personal life. The female characters in her short stories, “Jajeongeoreul Tago” (“Riding a Bicycle”), “Aine Keuraine” (“Eine Kleine”), and “Ohuui Segye” (“An Afternoon’s World”), relocate overseas for study or immigration, through which they reflect on their national circumstances.

Furthermore, Kim has consistently explored and reflected on the lives of women. Gyeourui Hwan (Winter of Illusion), which received the Yi Sang Literary Award in 1989, is a novella written in stream of consciousness, capturing the inner lives of middle-aged women and is part of the “hwan(幻)” (illusion) series. The series, which took fourteen years to complete, features characters who are predominantly middle-aged women, bearing scars, despair, and anxiety. Through these figures, she examines the amorphous nature of existence and poses questions about the meaning of life.

Reference

Selected Works

Darui Mollak (The Fall of the Moon). Chunga Books, 1995

Chorokbit Moja (A Green Hat). Munhakdongne Publishing Corp., 2021

Short Story Collections

Chorokbit Moja (A Green Hat). Nanam Publishing House, 1984

Gadeukchan Joyongham (A Complete Quietness). Goryeowon, 1990

Bomui Hwan(幻) (Spring of Illusion). Mihaksa, 1990

Jangmibit Insaeng (A Rosy Life). Jakka Publishing Co., Ltd., 1992

Gaeurui Hwan (Autumn of Illusion). Yolimwon Publishing Co., 2003

Jibung Mitui Baiollin (A Violin Beneath the Roof). Hyundae Munhak Publishing Co., Ltd., 2004

Jjokbaeui Norae (The Song of a Little Boat). Munhakdongne Publishing Corp., 2015

Gimjiwon Gimchaewon Jamae Soseoljip Meon Jip Meon Bada (A Short Story Collection by the Kim Sisters: Faraway Home, Faraway Sea). Jisik-sanup Publishing Co. Ltd., 1977 (multiple authors)

Urisidaeui Hanguk Munhak (Korean Literature of Our Time). Kyemongsa, 1986 (multiple authors)

Oneurui 韓國文學 33人選 21–33 (Korean Literature of Today by Thirty-Three Authors, vols. 21–33). Yangudang, 1987 (multiple authors)

Ttaega Akanira (Because the Days Are Evil). Jakka Publishing Co., Ltd., 1989 (multiple authors)

Oneurui 韓國文學 33人選 1-16, 20-33 (Korean Literature of Today by Thirty-Three Authors, vols. 1–16, 20–33). Yangudang, 1989 (multiple authors)

李箱文學賞 Susangjakpumjip 13 (Yi Sang Literary Award Anthology, vol. 13). Literature & Thought, 1989 (multiple authors)

Jeo Pureunnarui Gieok Sogeuro (Into the Memories of Those Blue Days). Keunsan, 1990 (multiple authors)

12inui Tteodori Soseol Gil Tteonaneun Saramdeul (Wandering Fiction by Twelve Writers: People on the Road). Keunsan, 1990 (multiple authors)

李箱文學賞 Susangjakpumjip 14 (Yi Sang Literary Award Anthology, vol. 14). Literature & Thought, 1990 (multiple authors)

Hangungnyeoseongsoseolseon 2 (Selected Korean Women’s Fiction, vol. 2). Gapin Publishing, 1991 (multiple authors)

Urisidaeui Hanguk Munhak 21 (Korean Literature of Our Time, vol. 21). Kyemongsa, 1991 (multiple authors)

Hangungmunhakjakpumseon: Jungpyeonsoseol. '92 (Selected Korean Literature: Novellas, 1992). The Korean Culture and Arts Foundation, 1992 (multiple authors)

李箱文學賞 Susangjakpumjip 16 (Yi Sang Literary Award Anthology, vol. 16). Literature & Thought, 1989 (multiple authors)

Haetsarui Binjarieseo Heundeullineun Norae (The Trembling Song in Withdrawn Sunlight). Segye Ilbo, 1992 (multiple authors)

金裕貞文學賞 Susangjakpumjip 3 (Kim Yujeong Literary Award Anthology, vol. 3). Dongsuh Publishers, 1992 (multiple authors)

正統韓國文學大系 60 (The Canonical Series of Korean Literature, vol. 60). Eomungak, 1994 (multiple authors)

Yeongwonhan Eomeoni: Hanguk Yeoryusoseolga 22in Jjalbeunsoseol Seonjip (Eternal Mother: Short Stories by Twenty-Two Korean Women Writers). Jeongeumsa, 1994 (multiple authors)

Hangukdanpyeonmunhak 30 (Korean Short Fiction, vol. 30). Kumsung Publishing, 1994 (multiple authors)

Jajeongeoreul Tago (Riding a Bicycle). Dong-A Publishing, 1995 (multiple authors)

Hangukdaepyomunhak 30 Geu Hae Gyeoul Oe (Essential Korean Literature, vol. 30: That Year’s Winter and Other Stories). Kumsung Publishing, 1996 (multiple authors)

Jilju (Sprint). Yolimwon Publishing Co., 1997 (multiple authors)

Hanguk 3dae Munhaksang Susangsoseoljip (Award-Winning Works from Korea’s Top Three Literary Awards), Garam Publishing, 1998 (multiple authors)

2000nyeoneul Daepyohaneun Munjesoseol (Notable Fiction of 2000). Hankookmunhwasa, 2001 (multiple authors)

現代文學賞 Susangsoseoljip 41 Gom Iyagi Oe (Hyundae Munhak Award Anthology, vol. 41: The Bear Story). Hyundae Munhak Publishing Co., Ltd., 2003 (multiple authors)

Ojeonghui Gimchaewon Oe (Works by Oh Jung Hee, Kim Chae-Won and Others). Changbi Publishers, Inc., 2005 (multiple authors)

Hanguksoseorui Eolgul 18 Sarangui Yegam Oe (The Faces of Korean Fiction, vol. 18: Premonition of Love). Prunsasangsa, 2009 (multiple authors)

Seongnyangeul Deunge Jigo Geurimjareul Balda: Bagwanseo Deung Uri Sidae Daepyojakga 9inui Jajeonsoseol (Treading in the Shadows, Backs Turned to the Sunset: Autobiographical Fiction by Nine Writers of Our Time, Including Park Wan-Suh). Hyundae Munhak Publishing Co., Ltd., 2010 (multiple authors)

Je61hoe 現代文學賞 Susangsoseoljip Bereullin Pil Oe (The 61^st Hyundae Munhak Award Anthology: Berlin Phil and Other Stories). Hyundae Munhak Publishing Co., Ltd., 2015 (multiple authors)

I Hyoseok Munhaksang Susangjakpumjip 2019 (Lee Hyo-seok Literary Award Anthology, 2019), Saenggakjeonggeojang, 2020 (multiple authors)

Hyeongpyeongundong 100junyeon 100in Munjip (The 100th Anniversary of the Hyeongpyeong Movement: An Anthology of 100 Writers). Council for the Enhancement of Equality in Literature, 2023 (multiple authors)

Novels

Hyeongjawa Geu Yeopsaram (Hyeongja and the Person Beside Her). Chang Book, 1993

Darui Gang (River of the Moon). Hainaim, 1997

Michin Sarangui Norae: Yeoreumui 幻 (A Crazy Love Song: Summer of Illusion). Jakka Publishing Co., Ltd., 1998

Essays

Kkumkkul Sigan Isseuseyo? (Do You Have Time to Dream?). Jeonwonmunhwasa, 1993

Geudeuri Tteonan Haengbogui Pinancheo (A Refuge of Joy They Left Behind). Geulsegye, 1991 (multiple authors)

Samak... Geurigo Jijunghaee Bachinda (Dedicated to the Desert… and the Mediterranean Sea). Munhakdongne Publishing Corp., 1994 (multiple authors)

Museun Kkocheuro Munjireun Gaseumigie: Naneun Idajido Salgo Sipeunga (What Flower Did My Heart Rub Against: That Makes Me Want to Live This Much?). Minyesa, 1994 (multiple authors)

Children’s Books

Jangiwa Gawison: Se Jamae Iyagi (Jangi and Scissorhands: The Story of Three Sisters). Hanyang Publishing, 1996

Other

Mannamui Bangsik: Seojeongjueseo Jangyeongjukkaji (Ways of Encounter: From Seo Jeong-Ju to Sarah Chang). Gimm-Young Publishers, Inc., 1993

Jeongsinbunyeoljeung (Schizophrenia). Jungang Moonhwasa Jinsoo Publishing Co., 1996

Bumoiyagi (A Story About Parents). Jiseongui Saem, 1998 (multiple authors)

Abeojiui Chueok: Urisidae Daepyojuja 33ineul Kiun Abeojiiyagi (Memories of My Father: The Fathers of Thirty-Three Leading Figures of Our Time). Ttatteuthanson, 2010 (multiple authors)

Reference

Kim, Yeong-eun. “Hanguk Hyeondae Yeoseongsoseorui Jendeojirihakgwa Yeoseong Juche Yeongu: Seoyeongeun, Gimchaewon, Gangseokgyeongui 1980nyeondae Jung·Danpyeon Soseoreul Jungsimeuro” (“A Study of Gendered Geography and Female Agency in Contemporary Korean Women’s Fiction: Short Fiction of 1980s by So Young-En, Kim Chae-Won, and Kang Sok-kyung”). 2024. Myongji University, doctoral dissertation.

Lee, Sang-jin. “Gimchaewon Soseore Natanan Siljonjeok Tamsaekgwa Jangsoseong” (“Existential Exploration and Sense of Place in Kim Chae-Won’s Fiction”). Hyeondaesoseollyeongu (The Journal of Korean Fiction Research), no. 79. The Society of Korean Fiction, 2020.