“In my dreams, someone was always spinning lies the way a spider spins its web and whispering them into my ear—so many lies that they overflowed.” (Yeomsoreul moneun yeoja (염소를 모는 여자 A Woman Driving a Goat), Munhakdongne, 2014)
Jon Kyongnin is a writer known for her nuanced yet powerful portrayals of concealed or repressed female sexuality.
1. Life
Jon Kyongnin was born in 1962 in Haman, Gyeongsangnam-do. Her birth name is Ahn Ae-geum, and Jon Kyongnin is a pen name inspired by her admiration for the essayist Jeon Hye-rin. She graduated from Kyungnam University with a degree in German Language and Literature, and worked as a guest music producer and broadcast scriptwriter for KBS Masan Broadcasting Station. She later married and lived an ordinary life until 1993, when, after the birth of her second child, she began writing. In 1995, she made her literary debut when her short story “Samagui dal” (사막의 달 Desert Moon) won the Dong-a Ilbo New Writer’s Contest. Jon gained recognition as a major new literary voice when she won the 29th Hankook Ilbo Literary Award for her short story “Yeomsoreul moneun yeoja” in 1996 and the second Munhakdongne Novel Award for “Amu gosedo eomneun namja” (아무 곳에도 없는 남자 Nowhere Man) the following year. One of her most celebrated works, “Nae saenge kkok haruppunin teukbyeolhan nal” was adapted into a film in 2002 by director Byun Young-joo. In 2010, she joined the faculty of Kyungnam University as a professor in the Division of Liberal Arts.
2. Writing
Jon Kyongnin is one of the defining novelists of 1990s Korean literature. Her fiction is characterized by nuanced and delicate prose and powerful imagery. Another hallmark of her work is its active engagement with female sexuality. She constructs narratives that bring hidden or repressed female sexuality into view through the perspective of her narrators, turning inward to examine their inner lives. Her best-known work “Nae saenge kkok haruppunin teukbyeolhan nal” (내 생에 꼭 하루뿐일 특별한 날 A Very Special Day in My Life) was considered highly provocative upon its publication, even labeled an “adultery novel,” but it also candidly portrays the desires and emotional complexities of the women of the time. The protagonists of Jon’s fiction generally approach life with a sense of pessimism. They often view their lives, which are complex at times and simple at others, with resignation and detachment. Yet, this very disillusionment becomes a catalyst for transformation. One notable example is the protagonist of “Merigoraundeu seokeoseu yeoin” (메리고라운드 서커스 여인 Merry-Go-Round Circus Woman), who chases after fantastical atmosphere, untethered from any fixed ideals about life.
Reference
Short story collections
《염소를 모는 여자》(문학동네, 1996) / Yeomsoreul moneun yeoja (A Woman Driving a Goat), Munhakdongne, 1996
《바닷가 마지막 집》(생각의 나무, 1998) / Badatga majimak jip (The Last House by the Sea), Saenggagui Namu, 1998
《환과 멸》(생각의 나무, 2001) / Hwangwa myeol (Illusion and Extinction), Saenggagui Namu, 2001
《물의 정거장》(문학동네, 2003) / Murui jeonggeojang (The Water Station), Munhakdongne, 2003
《황진이》(자음과모음(이룸), 2004) / Hwang Jini, Jaeum & Moeum (Irum), 2004
《여름휴가》(청어, 2005) / Yeoreum hyuga (Summer Vacation), Chungeo, 2005
《천사는 여기 머문다》(문학동네, 2014) / Cheonsaneun yeogi meomunda (Angels Stay Here), Munhakdongne, 2014
《염소를 모는 여자》(문학동네, 2014) / Yeomsoreul moneun yeoja (A Woman Driving a Goat), Munhakdongne, 2014
《이중 연인》(나무옆의자, 2019) / Ijung yeonin (Double Lovers), Namuyeopuija, 2019
《굿바이 R》(문학동네, 2022) / Gutbai R (Goodbye, R), Munhakdongne, 2022
(co-authored) 《서른 살의 강》, 문학동네, 1996 / Seoreun sarui gang (The River at Thirty), Munhakdongne, 1996
(co-authored) 《꽃들은 모두 어디로 갔나》, 르네상스, 1997 / Kkotdeureun modu eodiro gatna (Where Have All the Flowers Gone), Renaissance, 1997
(co-authored) 《낯선 물 속 나의 그림자》, 생각의나무, 1999 / Natseon mul sok naui geurimja (My Shadow in Strange Waters), Saenggagui Namu, 1999
(co-authored) 《메리고라운드 서커스 여인 : 1999 제3회 21세기문학상 수상작품집》, 이수, 1999 / Merigoraundeu seokeoseu yeoin: 1999 je 3-hoe 21-segi munhaksang susang jakpumjip (Merry-Go-Round Circus Woman: 1999 3rd 21st Century Literary Award Anthology), Isu, 1999
(co-authored) 《아름다운 인연》, 하늘연못, 2000 / Areumdaun inyeon (Beautiful Ties of Fate), Haneul Yeonmot, 2000
(co-authored) 《2000 현장비평가가 뽑은 올해의 좋은 소설》, 현대문학, 2000 / Hyeonjang bipyeonggaga ppobeun olhaeui joeun soseol (2000 Good Fiction of the Year Selected by Working Critics, 2000), Hyundae Munhak, 2000
(co-authored) 《내 고향에는 이제 눈이 내리지 않는다》, 생각의 나무, 2000 / Nae gohyangeneun ije nuni naeriji anneunda (Snow No Longer Falls on My Hometown), Saenggagui Namu, 2000
(co-authored) 《고양이는 부르지 않을 때 온다》, 생각의 나무, 2001 / Goyangineun bureoji aneul ttae onda (Cats Come When You Don't Call), Saenggagui Namu, 2001
(co-authored) 《첫사랑》, 봄출판사(봄미디어), 2002 / Cheot sarang (First Love), Bom (Bom Media), 2002
(co-authored) 《바다와 나비 : 2003년 제27회 이상문학상 수상작품집》, 문학사상사, 2003 / Bada wa nabi: 2003-nyeon je 27-hoe Yi Sang munhaksang susang jakpumjip (The Sea and the Butterfly: 2003 27th Yi Sang Literary Award Anthology), Munhak Sasangsa, 2003
(co-authored) 《옛우물에서의 은어낚시》, 작가정신, 2003 / Yet umureseoui euneo naksi (Fishing for Sweetfish at an Old Well), Jakka Jeongsin, 2003
(co-authored) 《2004 현장비평가가 뽑은 올해의 좋은 소설》, 현대문학, 2004 / Hyeonjang bipyeonggaga ppobeun olhaeui joeun soseol (Good Fiction of the Year Selected by Working Critics, 2004), Hyundae Munhak, 2004
(co-authored) 《감자먹는 사람들 조매제 빈처 안마당이 있는 가겟집 풍경》, 창비, 2006 / Gamja meongneun saramdeul Jomaeje Bincheo Anmadangi inneun gagetjip punggyeong (The Potato Eaters, Reducing Ancestral Rites, Poor Man’s Wife, A View of the Shop Yard), Changbi, 2006
(co-authored) 《밤이여, 나뉘어라 - 2006년 제30회 이상문학상 수상작품집》, 문학사상사, 2006 / Bamiyeo, nanwieora: 2006-nyeon je 30-hoe Yi Sang munhaksang susang jakpumjip (Divide the Night: 2006 30th Yi Sang Literary Award Anthology), Munhak Sasangsa, 2006
(co-authored) 《소설 구십년대》, 생각의 나무, 2007 / Soseol gusimnyeondae (Fiction of the Nineties), Saenggagui Namu, 2007
(co-authored) 《천사는 여기 머문다 : 2007년 제31회 이상문학상 수상작품집》, 문학사상사, 2007 / Cheonsaneun yeogi meomunda: 2007-nyeon je 31-hoe Yi Sang munhaksang susang jakpumjip (Angels Stay Here: 2007 31st Yi Sang Literary Award Anthology), Munhak Sasangsa, 2007
(co-authored) 《강변마을 : 2011년 제56회 현대문학상 수상소설집》, 현대문학, 2010 / Gangbyeon maeul: 2011-nyeon je 56-hoe Hyundae Munhaksang susang soseoljip (Riverside Village: 2011 56th Hyundae Munhak Literature Award Anthology), Hyundae Munhak, 2010
(co-authored) 《자전소설 2》, 강, 2010 / Jajeon soseol 2 (Autobiographical Fiction 2), Gangbook, 2010
(co-authored) 《서울, 밤의 산책자들》, 강, 2011 / Seoul, bamui sanchaekjadeul (Seoul, Night Walkers), Gangbook, 2011
(co-authored) 《그해 가을바다의 상처》, 오늘의 문학사, 2011 / Geuhae gaeulbadaui sangcheo (The Wound of That Autumn Sea), Oneurui Munhaksa, 2011
(co-authored) 《금성녀》, 문예중앙, 2014 / Geumseongnyeo (Venus Woman), Munye Jungang, 2014
Novels
《아무 곳에도 없는 남자》, 문학동네, 1997 / Amu gosedo eomneun namja (Nowhere Man), Munhakdongne, 1997
《여자는 어디에서 오는가》, 문학동네, 1998 / Yeojaneun eodieseo oneunga (Where Do Women Come From), Munhakdongne, 1998
《내 생에 하루뿐일 특별한 날》, 문학동네, 1999 / Nae saenge kkok harupunil teukbyeolhan nal (A Very Special Day in My Life), Munhakdongne, 1999
《난 유리로 만든 배를 타고 낯선 바다를 떠도네 1-2》, 생각의 나무, 2001 / Nan yuriro mandeun baereul tago natseon badareul tteodone 1-2 (I Drift on Unknown Waters in a Glass Boat, vols. 1–2), Saenggagui Namu, 2001
《열정의 습관》, 자음과모음(이룸), 2002 / Yeoljeongui seupgwan (The Habit of Passion), Jaeum & Moeum (Irum), 2002
《검은 설탕이 녹는 동안》, 문학동네, 2002 / Geomeun seoltangi nogneun dongan (While the Dark Sugar Melts), Munhakdongne, 2002
《유리로 만든 배》, 생각의 나무, 2005 / Yuriro mandeun bae (A Glass Boat), Saenggagui Namu, 2005
《언젠가 내가 돌아오면》, 자음과모음(이룸), 2005 / Eonjenga naega doraomyeon (When I Return Someday), Jaeum & Moeum (Irum), 2005
《엄마의 집》, 열림원, 2007 / Eommaui jip (Mother's House), Yeollimwon, 2007
《풀밭 위의 식사》, 문학동네, 2010 / Pulbat wiui siksa (Luncheon on the Grass), Munhakdongne, 2010
《최소한의 사랑》, 청어, 2012 / Choesohanui sarang (Minimal Love), Cheongeo, 2012
《해변빌라》, 자음과모음(이룸), 2014 / Haebyeon billa (Seaside Villa), Jaeum & Moeum (Irum), 2014
《이마를 비추는, 발목을 물들이는》, 문학동네, 2017 / Imareul bichuneun, balmogul muldeurineun (Illuminating the Forehead, Dyeing the Ankles), Munhakdongne, 2017
Essays
《그리고 삶은 나의 것이 되었다》, 이가서, 2003 / Geurigo salmeun naui geosi doeeotda (And So Life Became Mine), Leegaseo, 2003
《나비》, 늘푸른소나무, 2006 / Nabi (Butterfly), Neulpureun Sonamu, 2006
《붉은리본》, 웅진지식하우스, 2006 / Bulgeun ribon (Red Ribbon), Woongjin Knowledge House, 2006
《사교성 없는 소립자들》, 섬앤섬, 2018 / Sagyoseong eomneun soripjadeul (Antisocial Particles), Seomaenseom, 2018
(co-authored) 《저기 네가 오고 있다》, 섬앤섬, 2004 / Jeogi nega ogo itda (There You Come), Seomaenseom, 2004
(co-authored) 《나는 왜 문학을 하는가》, 열화당, 2004 / Naneun wae munhageul haneun-ga (Why I Write Literature), Youlhwadang, 2004
(co-authored) 《사랑은 미친 짓이다》, 섬앤섬, 2007 / Sarangeun michin jisida (Love Is Madness), Seomaenseom, 2007
(co-authored) 《우리는 거제도로 갔다》, 지식파수꾼(경향미디어), 2010 / Urineun Geojedoro gatda (We Went to Geoje Island), Jisikpasukun (Kyunghyang Media), 2010
(co-authored) 《봄날은 간다》, 섬앤섬, 2011 / Bomnareun ganda (Spring Days Pass), Seomaenseom, 2011
(co-authored) 《소설가로 산다는 것》, 문학사상사, 2011 / Soseolgaro sandaneun geot (What It Means to Live as a Novelist), Munhak Sasangsa, 2011
(co-authored) 《나는 돌도끼를 쥔 신석기 사내들에게서 친밀감을 느낀다》, 섬앤섬, 2012 / Naneun doldokkireul jwin sinseokgi sanaedeuregeseo chinmilgameul neukkinda (I Feel Kinship with Neolithic Men Holding Stone Axes), Seomaenseom, 2012
(co-authored) 《사랑 풍경》, 섬앤섬, 2012 / Sarang punggyeong (Landscapes of Love), Seomaenseom, 2012
(co-authored) 《이상문학상 대상 작가의 자전적 에세이》, 문학사상사, 2019 / Yi Sang munhaksang daesang jakkaui jajeonjeok esei (Yi Sang Literary Award Grand Prize Winners’ Autobiographical Essays), Munhak Sasangsa, 2019
Miscellaneous works
《바닷가 마지막 집 : 만화로 보는 한국문학 대표작선 5》(이가서, 2003) / Badatga majimak jip: manhwaro boneun Hanguk munhak daepyojakseon 5 (The Last House by the Sea: Masterpieces of Korean Literature in Comics, vol. 5), Leegaseo, 2003
Reference
Kwon Young-min, Encyclopedia of Modern Korean Literature, Seoul National University Press, 2004.
LTI Korea 
DLKL 
SIWF 
