“In my contrived world, where the lines between meaningfulness and meaninglessness, existence and nonexistence, and chance and necessity are blurred, everything is out of context, and I have no attachment to anything that happens or does not happen.” (《어떤 작위의 세계》, 문학과지성사, 2011 / A Contrived World, Dalkey Archive Press, 2016)
Jung Young Moon is a writer who experiments with narratives that move freely between imagination and reality.
1. Life
Jung Young Moon was born in Hamyang, Gyeongsangnam-do, in 1965. He studied psychology at Seoul National University. He made his literary debut in 1996 with the publication of the novel Gyeou jonjaehaneun ingan (겨우 존재하는 인간 A Man Who Barely Exists) in the quarterly Jakga Segye. Over the following 16 years, he remained consistently active, publishing 12 books. He has also worked as a translator. In 2012, A Contrived World earned him the Han Moo-Sook Literary Prize, the Dongin Literary Award, and the Daesan Literary Award.
2. Writing
Jung Young Moon is a writer known for constructing experimental plots and narratives. Unlike many of his contemporaries who transformed ordinary life into speculative narratives, Jung became known for creating stories that cross the boundary between reality and imagination. His best-known novel, Eotteon jagwiui segye (어떤 작위의 세계 A Contrived World), is a travel narrative, written during his stay in San Francisco in the spring and summer of 2010, and an “attempt at writing as a series of utterly trivial, useless, and fanciful reflections.” The work has no clearly defined storyline nor a conventional plot, allowing readers a remarkable experience of opening the book to a random page and encountering what feels like an entirely new story every time. Critics have noted the novel for its exceptional ability to generate stories out of seemingly insignificant things.
Reference
Fiction
《겨우 존재하는 인간》, 세계사, 1997 / Gyeou jonjaehaneun ingan (A Man Who Barely Exists), Segyesa, 1997
《검은 이야기 사슬》, 문학과지성사, 1998 / Geomeun iyagi sasseul (Black Story Chain), Moonji, 1998
《나를 두둔하는 악마에 대한 불온한 이야기》, 세계사, 2000 / Nareul dudunhaneun angmae daehan buronhan iyagi (A Subversive Story of the Devil Who Takes My Side), Segyesa, 2000
《핏기 없는 독백》, 문학과지성사, 2000 / Pitgi eomneun dokbaek (A Bloodless Monologue), Moonji, 2000
《더없이 어렴풋한 일요일》, 문학동네, 2001 / Deoeopsi eoryeomputhan iryoil (The Most Indistinct Sunday), Munhakdongne, 2001
《중얼거리다》, 이마고, 2002 / Junggeolgeorida (Muttering), Imago, 2002
《어떤 작위의 세계》, 문학과지성사, 2011 / Eotteon Jagwiui Segye (A Contrived World), Moonji Publishing co., Ltd., 2011
《하품》, 작가정신, 2017 / Hapum (Yawn), Jakka Publishing Co., 2017
《프롤로그 에필로그》, 문학동네, 2022 / Prollogeu Epillogeu (Prologue Epilogue), Munhakdongne Publishing Corp., 2022
《겨우 존재하는 인간》, &(앤드), 2024 / Gyeou Chonjarhaneum Ingan (A Man Who Barely Exists), &(Aendeu), 2024
(co-authored) 《부석사 : 2001년 제25회 이상문학상 수상작품집》, 문학사상사, 2001 / Buseoksa: 2001-nyeon Je 25-hoe Yi Sang munhaksang susang jakpumjip (Buseoksa: 25th Yi Sang Literary Award Anthology, 2001), Munhak Sasangsa, 2001
(co-authored) 《나는 너무 멀리 왔을까 : 2001년 제8회 21세기문학상 수상작품집》, 이수, 2001 / Naneun neomu meolli waseulkka: 2001-nyeon Je 8-hoe 21-segi munhaksang susang jakpumjip (Have I Come Too Far?: 8th 21st Century Literary Award Anthology, 2001), Isu, 2001
(co-authored) 《2001 현장비평가가 뽑은 올해의 소설》, 현대문학, 2001 / 2001 Hyeonjang bipyeongaga ppobeun olhaeui soseol (Fiction of the Year as Selected by Working Critics, 2001), Hyundae Munhak, 2001
(co-authored) 《고갯마루 : 2002년 제47회 현대문학상 수상소설집》, 현대문학, 2001 / Gogaenmaru: 2002-nyeon Je 47-hoe hyeondae munhaksang susang soseoljip (The Pass: 47th Hyundae Munhak Literary Award Fiction Anthology, 2002), Hyundae Munhak, 2001
(co-authored) 《뱀장어 스튜 : 2002년 제26회 이상문학상 수상작품집》, 문학사상사, 2002 / Baemjangeo seutyu: 2002-nyeon Je 26-hoe Yi Sang munhaksang susang jakpumjip (Eel Stew: 26th Yi Sang Literary Award Anthology, 2002), Munhak Sasangsa, 2002
Short Story Collections
《오리무중에 이르다》, 문학동네, 2017 / Orimujunge Ireuda (Ending Up in a Fog), Munhakdongne Publishing Corp., 2017)
《꿈》, 민음사, 2021 / Kkeum (Dream), MINUMSA Publishing Group, 2021
Translations
Jim Harrison, Legends of the Fall, Delacorte Press / Seymour Lawrence, 1979. / 《가을의 전설》, 정영문 역, 맑은소리, 1995.
Laurence Leamer, The Kennedy Women: The Saga of an American Family, Random House, 1994. / 《케네디 가의 신화 1–3》, 정영문 역, 창작시대, 1995.
Duke Robinson, Good Intentions: The Nine Unconscious Mistakes of Nice People, Grand Central Publishing, 1997. / 《선한 사람이 실패하는 9가지 이유》, 정영문 역, 창작시대, 1997.
Richard Carlson, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff at Work: Simple Ways to Minimize Stress and Conflict While Bringing Out the Best in Yourself and Others, Hyperion, 1998. / 《직장의 사소한 일에 목숨을 거는 당신에게》, 정영문 역, 까치, 1999.
Robin S. Sharma, Who Will Cry When You Die?: Life Lessons from the Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, HarperCollins, 1999. / 《내가 죽을 때 누가 울어줄까》, 정영문 역, 산성미디어, 2000.
John Gribbin and Mary Gribbin, Time and the Universe (What's the Big Idea series), Hodder Children's Books, 1997. / 《시간이 시시각각》, 정영문 역, 주니어김영사, 2000.
Arlene Cotter, From This Moment On: A Guide for Those Recently Diagnosed with Cancer, Random House, 1999. / 《지금 바로 이 순간!》, 정영문 역, 국일미디어, 2000.
Barry J. Farber, Diamonds Under Pressure: Five Steps to Turning Adversity Into Success, Penguin Publishing Group, 1998. / 《지금 당장 시작하라 2》, 정영문 역, 씨앗을뿌리는사람, 2001.
Max Davis, It's Only a Flat Tire in the Rain: Navigating Life's Bumpy Roads with Faith and Grace, Penguin Group Inc., 2001. / 《당신은 살아가는데 필요한 힘을 어디서 얻는가》, 정영문 역, 세종연구원, 2001.
Helen Kim, The Long Season of Rain, Henry Holt, 1996. / 《엄마의 집》, 정영문 역, 작가정신, 2001.
蔡志忠, 猫科宣言, 商务印书馆, 1999. / 《고양이라면 어떻게 했을까?》, 정영문 역, 창해, 2001.
洪啟嵩, 天天都成功, 大塊文化, 1998. / 《Be a Winner》, 정영문 역, 창해, 2002.
Reference
Ha Hyeon-ok, “This Season's Literature — Literature and Politics, the Flood of World Literature Collected Editions,” Daesan Munhwa, Daesan Foundation, 2012.
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