In NPR's interview, Han Kang discusses her latest novel, "We Do Not Part," inspired by a vivid dream. The narrative follows Kyungha, who faces the impact of the Jeju Island Massacre, a tragic event where 30,000 civilians were killed in 1948 due to political turmoil. As a snowstorm sets the scene, Kyungha receives an urgent request from a friend, linking personal loss to historical trauma. The story uncovers the neglected history of Korea, exploring how past atrocities shape individual lives, intertwining personal and collective grief in an evocative and dreamlike style.
The inspiration for my new novel came in a dream with haunting imagery of snow and burial mounds, symbolizing the pain of Korean history.
The Jeju Island Massacre in 1948 remains a hidden history of South Korea, resulting in the tragic death of 30,000 civilians during a time of political unrest.
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