The first essay collection written by Hyang Park who won the 9th Segyemoonhak Award by her novel Emerald Palace

Ten days spent in the western coast of Jeju,

A journey that has not been over yet 

Now, a little different daily life unfolds here.

 “Suddenly this place makes up a story  I thought it was a very suitable place.”

The first collection of essays by Park Hyang, who won the 9th Segyemoonhak

Award. The book contains the story of ten days spent in the western sea of Jeju. At the end of summer, August, the artist goes on a 10-day trip to Jeju Island

with her old friend, Kyung. As an office worker, as a mother, as a housewife, as a child of sick

and old parents, it was her last time who always lived life chased by time. She wanted to focus

on ‘me’ quietly and leisurely by taking off the waist during busy times.

Staying in a small country house, she goes out and walks around the neighborhood further and further. She does not plan anything beforehand, her destination changes according to her

daily mood. Waking up by the sound of the waves off the coast of Jeju, instead of a cell

phone alarm, she goes for a walk to the seaside village and it becomes a habit. She tries

not to get caught up in the pressure to go sightseeing. On some days, she takes a nap at home with the air conditioner turned on, lies in bed, reads some books she bought in a small bookstore, or rolls around.

“I’ve never seen such a sunset.” 

She fills her heart with beautiful sadness while watching the sunset. 

The artist took pictures every day and kept a diary every evening for ten days. When she leaves

Jeju, the artist realizes from the pictures she took. “Ah, there are so many sunsets.” One of the most important tasks in the trip was to see the sunset every day. On the first day of the trip, after accidentally discovering and impressed by the sunset near her accommodation, she moved westward every day to find the sunset. Not disturbed by anyone in the still, it was the moment when all the realistic values that hold her life became meaningless. Watching the sunset smacking and sprinkling red paints, the artist recalls a sentence in the novel of Kim Won-il, The Sunset, ‘a sunset that blooms red like a blacksmith’s fire.’ At first, she was just admiring its beauty, but as time passes, the enchanting beauty changes and something touches and moves her hearts. It cannot be defined in a word, but thanks to it in anyway, she can move from place to place for 10 days to capture the sunset in her eyes.

Travel and daily life meet warm comfort at the border

In the novel, The Child Who Swallows an Ice Flower, written by the author 10 years ago, there is the last scene where the protagonist and her family, who have passed a difficult period, sit together and have a meal. The artist confesses that she has struggled for a long time with this last scene. Only after she finished the work, she realized that the table set up with a simple home meal was the greatest way both that the protagonist can give comfort to the family and that the family can recover. You can eat most of Jeju-style meal at hostels. Eggplants, sesame leaves, peppers, and green onions, picked up in the small garden in the hostel, are excellent ingredients. The meal table served by the “good food friend” Kyung became a great expression of comfort and love that did not require many words to the author.

Going back to her daily routine, now she has to work and do a lot of stuffs such as visiting the hospital or bank, but the memories for ten days remain in her body. The title of the book comes from a passage in Olga Tokarchuk’s novel Bieguni, “My first journey began with walking across the field.” Their first trip was over, and they understand it was not something special anymore. However, they return to their daily routines with a lighter mind than when they packed their luggage ten days ago and we all know that their journey will continue.