▲ Novelist Jo Jung-rae poses for photos with his new book, "Golden Paper," in Seoul on Nov. 20, 2023. (Yonhap)

novelist-new book

Novelist Jo Jung-rae delves into human desire for money in new book

SEOUL, Nov. 20 (Yonhap) -- Renowned novelist Jo Jung-rae will release his latest novel, "Golden Paper," an exploration of human nature and its desire for money, this week.

At a press conference in Seoul on Monday to mark the upcoming release of the two-volume book series, the 80-year-old author said the topic had been on his mind for many decades and that he always wanted to write about how money controls human beings who fall into its trap.

The story revolves around two main protagonists, lawyer Lee Tae-ha and his mentor Han Ji-seop, who symbolize idealistic men free from material pursuits, with many other episodes inspired by real-life events and money-related crimes.

One of the most revered novelists in the country, Jo authored such epic bestselling series as "Taebaek Mountain Range" (1983-1989), "Arirang" (1995) and "Han River" (2002). He is known for his tightly knit narratives that delve into colonial and modern Korean history.

"Golden Paper," available for purchase starting Tuesday, is his first since the 2019 novel "The Question of a Thousand Years."

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