연합뉴스
| yna@yna.co.kr 2022-08-11 16:36:38
SEOUL, August 11(Yonhap) -- "Although the truth is important, it is difficult to force it on others. It is true that historians in Japan and some other countries deny the comfort issue. However, the truth has to be repeated. The most helpful thing is to tell the truth."
Korean-American author Lee Min-jin (54) said this while answering questions about the 77th anniversary of Liberation Day, which was just five days away, in a book talk to commemorate the publication of the revised edition of the novel "Pachinko" held at the Daeyang Hall in Sejong University, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul on August 10. During the answer, she also shouted "Hurray" in Korean.
"Our history is very complicated because it simply did not have a good or bad side," author Lee, who wrote "Pachinko" with some part of the book having a background of the Japanese colonial period said. "By passing on to the next generation about what actually happened including the bad ones, one will be able to get out of the prison of hate. Constantly believing that you're a victim can be another prison."
"There are things we are not proud of and I believe these truths should be established correctly as well," she said as she referred to Gwangju Uprising, South Korean military's massacre of civilians during the Vietnam War and Jeju uprising.
She also said that the motivation for writing "Pachinko" was "because I wanted to correct the shortcomings." She added, "I thought the whole world should know how Korea became a colony of Japan and about the Koreans in Japan. They are still being insulted, and are accused of being dirty and immoral. I couldn't defend this prejudice."
"If we are oppressed and have difficulties, we can rebel. I want people to know that we can resist if we face inequality and can stand up again even when we are discouraged. There are so many things that are unfair in this world, but we have to step forward. The journey called life is beautiful."
"Although there may be a time when you'd feel like every second of life is a waste and a disappointment, there is nothing wasted," she said as she talked about her experience of writing the original script and completely changing the content afterwards. When asked about whether a sequel of "Pachinko" will be written, she replied, "It will never come out, and I don't want it. The rest is up to the readers."
In response to the question "What do you think about radical feminism," she said, "I am a feminist. Everyone who believes in equality has radical ideas. A true democratic country and developed countries should embrace the idea that men and women, sexual minorities and religious minorities should be treated equally."
Regarding discrimination and hatred, she advised, "If my child ever experiences inequality, I think it'd be easy to tell them to forget. But if your child says something bad happened at school, you have to listen to it carefully. If you act collectively, the cost becomes smaller and smaller. When you talk about something that you think is wrong, say it calmly instead of getting angry."
"I'm writting with a lot of pain. Even if I go slowly like a turtle, as long as my health permits, I will write it till the end," she said about her next novel "American Hagwon." She also said that she is writing a book called "Name Recognition," a memoir about how she learnt to speak and express herself.
The event was attended by 1,200 people, including book club operators, academy operator's son, aspiring writers and many more to listen to the author's story. After the event, Lee took out her phone and took a selfie with her readers who filled the lecture hall. The writer's parents, husband, older sister, and her maternal cousin, actress Kim Hye-eyn were also present. "I always owe my family a debt of love," she said.
"It was the first time for me to have more than 1,000 Korean readers hear my story in one space, so I was really stunned and startled," she said, as she met with Yonhap News right after the event. "Although the book was mostly read by the Western people at first, 'Pachinko' was a book written for Koreans. I was so touched today and I am so grateful."
(This article is translated from Korean to English by Haemin Kim.)
(END)
[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]