Book Reviews – The Things We Love

Oxford Soju Club, Jinwoo Park‘s debut novel, tells the story of three characters: a North Korean, a South Korean and a Korean American whose lives intersect in intricate and heartbreaking fated ways.

Yohan Kim— “the Northerner,” and Yunah Choi, “the American,” are spies. Jihoon Lim, “the Southerner,” is a young man from Seoul running the “Soju Club,” the Korean restaurant he has opened to keep a connection to his memories and his past. Due to their work and their circumstances, the characters in the book have complex, fluid identities that continuously shift as they try to find their true selves.

Continue reading ➞ “Oxford Soju Club”: A Thrilling and Moving Novel About Immigration and Identity

When South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol suddenly declared martial law on the evening of December 3, 2024, the country plunged into uncertainty and chaos. Extraordinary images of Korean citizens congregating outside of the National Assembly building filled the news. Six hours later, thanks to the heroic efforts of lawmakers who protected the National Assembly and held a vote in the middle of the night rejecting it, Yoon’s martial law declaration was lifted.

On TikTok, Jinwoo Park started releasing videos explaining the fast-moving situation, adding context and nuance to the news coming through regular media channels. The videos helped convey the shocking and historical nature of Yoon’s actions but also showed the deep connection Park maintains with South Korean politics, history, and culture.

Continue reading ➞ From BookTok to debut novel “Oxford Soju Club,” Jinwoo Park spreads the love of books and Korean literature