Chang states that Kim Jiyoung: Born in 1982 is not just describing the perspective of one woman but covers the experience of many Korean women. The only translator for the English version of the novel, Jamie Chang, has translated other Korean novels like The Summer by Choi Eunyoung. This novel captivates the heart of Koreans because of its accurate portrayal of the real pain and suffering Korean women have been dealing with for generations. Even though this novel has only been translated into English once, English-speaking readers have been raving about the raw and terrible experiences that leads to Jiyoung’s downfall and the collapse of her sanity. With over a million copies sold, Nam-Joo’s famous novel has finally been translated into English four years after being released in South Korea, and months after the film adaptation. Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982, is Cho Nam-Joo’s most successful novel due to her palpable honesty surrounding the uncomfortable and gut wrenching reality of Korea’s patriarchy. The reader can rightfully assume that societal pressures led to the collapse of Jiyoung’s mental health, and at the end of the novel, she falls victim to psychosis. From blood relatives scolding her for sharing her younger brother’s food, to sexist employers viewing her as an incompetent and unreliable worker, and even random strangers calling her a “lazy mother,” Jiyoung has greatly suffered from Korea’s brutal patriarchy. Throughout all stages of her life, Kim Jiyoung has endured countless demeaning critiques, from both men and women, that have positioned her status as lower than men. This novel narrows in on the hard truths that women, including Jiyoung, must face regarding cases of sexual assault, unfair sexism, familial pressures placed upon women, and a loss of self-identity. This straightforward novel wastes no time by jumping right into Kim Jiyoung’s, the protagonist’s, story about how sexism casually dictates the lives of most Korean women. BRIANNA HIRAMI WRITES - Cho Nam-Joo’s eye opening novel, Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982, displays how South Korea’s demoralizing rules and societal norms negatively affect the lives of Korean women.

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