Jang Namsu is a living witness to South Korea’s labor movement, having begun her fight for the right to survival and for the democratic labor union movement at the Wonpoong Woolen Textile Co. Ltd. Workers’ Union in the 1970s. Her experiences of surviving though a long history as a female worker and labor activist is vividly captured in her books, including The Stolen Workplace: Thereafter and Unfulfilled Dreams Are Just as Beautiful (co-authored). Her short story collection Ripple marks her first step as a novelist.

“I moved to the Guro Industrial Complex area in 7th grade. My family settled into a city-owned siyeong apartment instead of the public housing citizen's apartment, which had been marked for demolition due to poor construction. It was located right by the road leading to the industrial complex. Each morning, kids my age crowded the main street on their way to the factory, flooding into the complex like a flowing tide. I put on my school uniform and headed in the opposite direction of the procession, always feeling uncomfortable and insecure. Wearing the white uniform felt awkward, and I was anxious that I might have to join their procession to the industrial complex. I barely managed to finish high school amid the tension of discomfort and anxiety, thanks to my mom, who went to the factory on my behalf.

Jang Namsu was also part of that procession, being involved in the legendary trade union of Wonpoong Woolen Textile Co. Ltd. She was happy to read books as much as she wanted at the factory, instead of going to school; to perform talchum—the traditional masked dance ; and to be with those who taught her that laborers were rightful human beings with dignity . Even while fighting against labor oppression and feeling sad, she wasn’t lonely since she had comrades that had become like family to her.

Jang’s novel features the unnies who moved into bag or textile factories to educate their younger and older brothers, sparing whatever food they could for their struggling households. Though these unnies may appear fragile, they’re incredibly strong—delicate yet bolder than anyone. These women were the first to be sacrificed for the sake of their families but ultimately found their place: they’re our mothers, our sisters, and even ourselves . It’s an honor to offer words of support for novelist Jang Namsu as she begins a new chapter by sharing the stories of these unnies.” - Kim Yijung (novelist)

Ripple contains behind-the-scenes stories of a man whose life was utterly devastated after he was taken to the Samchung re-education camp for joining the Democratic Labor Union (“Ripple”); the unaltered account of a man arrested during a protest and imprisoned after being accused of communism, leaving his parents heart-stricken (“The Heck was That?” ). Yet, it’s meaningless to label her writing simply as “labor.” There’s much more to discover in her first collection of novels. Jang’s stories are like “chats” about the countless people she has encountered in life. For instance, in her novel that vividly reflects her recent experience of moving to and living in Jeju Island ("In that House"), she brings to life the quarrels between a landlord and a tenant regarding the "house," allowing readers to marvel at the lively scenes unfolding in the unique landscape of Jeju Island. Works like “A House That Fixes Your Upset Stomach ” and “A House that Welcomes Your Soul ,” whose stories caught the attention of Jang Namsu—an emerging writer and a born mainlander —and were ultimately passed down to us, also mainlanders, make us eagerly anticipate how many more fascinating tales of Jeju Island her curious eyes will bring us in the future.