The duvet of “Oxford Soju Membership” by Jinwoo Park / Courtesy of Dundurn Press
In recent times, Asian voices in North American literature have seen a surge, with extra authors gaining visibility and acclaim. This progress is fueled not solely by a publishing business more and more dedicated to various voices but additionally by world cultural phenomena just like the Korean wave. As audiences interact with Ok-culture, curiosity about Asian tales — together with these of Asian American, Asian Canadian and diaspora communities — has grown, creating fertile floor for novels exploring identification, migration and heritage. Social media, variations and a rising demand for genuine narratives have additional amplified these voices, marking a transformative second. Korean Canadian first-time writer Jinwoo Park launched his debut novel “Oxford Soju Membership” just lately, proving that onerous work, savvy use of social media and serendipity can convey an writer to this second.
“Oxford Soju Membership” is a layered story of suspense, intrigue and thriller, weaving collectively characters from North Korea, Korean American communities and newly emigrated Koreans in Oxford, England. The story opens when a North Korean spy named Doha Kim is murdered, and his associate and protege, Yohan Kim, searches for solutions, guided solely by the clues “Soju Membership” and “Dr. Ryu.” What may have been a easy spy thriller as a substitute explores advanced layers of identification, the immigrant expertise and the challenges of navigating a number of worlds.
“I conceived this kernel concept after I was in Oxford, and I used to be strolling down the road considering a automotive chase can be good right here,” Park mentioned. “After which from there, I acquired the thought of a buddy cop story between a North and a South Korean spy. Or a ‘Rush Hour’ for Koreans.”
He admitted the preliminary draft “was a multitude.”
“It was in Oxford and had a North Korean nuclear scientist, a nuke briefcase and there’s a bit of lady concerned that they’ve to avoid wasting,” he mentioned. “And automotive chases and doing donuts and drifts in very quaint touristy squares.”
Whereas the draft appeared a bit formulaic and virtually absurd, Park discovered a special sort of story tucked into these scenes, one which connects with the diasporic life.
Born in Korea, Park lived in Vancouver from the age of 11, then in Lengthy Island, New York, earlier than transferring again to Canada, ultimately incomes a grasp’s diploma on the College of Oxford in England. Dwelling exterior ethnic enclaves or a much bigger Asian Canadian or Asian American group, he mentioned he typically felt like an outsider.
Park explores this twin alienation in his characters — feeling international within the nation the place you reside in addition to in your homeland — and the intricate paths of the Korean diaspora. Readers see these struggles unfold within the lives of Yohan, a North Korean spy who should undertake mannerisms that match his cowl whereas remaining guarded; Yunah, a CIA agent navigating each Korean and American identities; and Jihoon, the proprietor of Soju Membership, who balances Korean and native prospects whereas wrestling with nostalgia, highlighted by his desire for “This,” a Korean cigarette model that he will get imported as a approach of sustaining a way of connection to Korea. Because the tempo picks up and the plot thickens, it’s not simply the intrigue and thriller that deepens, but additionally themes of self-discovery, moral complexity and a quiet reconciling of who an individual is predicted to be versus who they need to be.
Creator Jinwoo Park / Courtesy of Dundurn Press
After the guide was accomplished, it took many rewrites and years for it to discover a house with Dundurn Press, a publishing firm in Canada. Many writers discover their publishers via a number of queries and submissions, however for Park, the trail was a bit of extra unconventional.
In 2023, after receiving one other writer rejection, Park determined to construct a following on social media and use it to archive his personal work. The platform he selected was TikTok. Initially he recorded him doing translations and providing insights into translation and books. (Park himself is an achieved translator, having gained the Literature Translation Institute of Korea’s Translation Award for Aspiring Translators in 2023.) He additionally provided translations on standard media similar to BTS lyrics and gave insights about historical past, different Asian literature and Korean information. This led to his account, @jinwoopark0721, gaining over 20,000 followers. Then in the future, he obtained a direct message from somebody thinking about publishing his guide.
At first he was skeptical. “I didn’t know who this was; her profile image was (the actor) Ma Dong-seok,” he mentioned. “So this Don Lee-looking particular person DMs me and says, ‘I like your movies, and it says in your web site that you’ve got a manuscript.’”
Having virtually given up on “Oxford Soju Membership,” he was excited for the surprising alternative, and after some steerage and lots of rewrites, he offered the guide and obtained a publishing deal in December 2023.
Park mentioned that having the guide written and going to print was virtually remedy for him, permitting him to really feel extra comfy with either side of his heritage.
“I don’t must show I’m Korean,” he defined. “I don’t must show how Canadian I’m or how particular I’m. I spotted, I’m at a way more steady and safe state of existence. And I believe that helped me to have a brand new perspective and what it means to be in Korea as properly.”
Park is already getting nice opinions for “Oxford Soju Membership,” together with one from fellow translator and author Anton Hur. Park is on a guide tour at the moment in North America and hopes sooner or later to have it translated into Korean.
Thus far, “Oxford Soju Membership” is out there in Canada and shall be out there within the U.S. on Sept. 30. Its worldwide launch shall be introduced later. Go to jinwoo-park.com for extra data.
Antonia Giordano is a contract photographer and author based mostly in Seoul. Go to giordanoantonia.myportfolio.com and observe @antonia_creative_services on Instagram.
