Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982
The girls' first book of 2021 and the last in our series about authors of colour is Cho Nam-Ju's feminist powerhouse "Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982". In discussing this stark novel's approach to laying out the cadaver that is misogyny and disregard for women, girls, sisters and mothers, the girls talk:
- The physical and mental health issues motherhood and pregnancy present (and we had NO IDEA)
- Sexual assault and how small actions build up over time (why are you feeling our bra straps?!)
- What if sexism isn't just an outdated societal rule? What if it's a tradition? One that we're proud of?
- How sexism affects children (maybe it's NOT adorable when little boys bully the girls they like!)
- and how having the luxury of choice changes everything
Plus, I mean, there were always gonna be tangents, right?
- With our first Korean novel, we had to go into how Run BTS! and our K-Drama obsessions informed our enjoyment of the book, right?
- Not to mention Katie's, ahem, flawless pronunciation? (She cannot say 승연 to save her life)
- Way more apologising than we've seen on previous episodes - maybe the subject matter brought us closer as a group?
- AND, the piece de resistance, Deano from 2 Tyres, 1 Chain fame advertising his one-man musical, Deano - Nice to Meetchyou (working title)
Catch the full episode
More on Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982:
Kim Jiyoung is a girl born to a mother whose in-laws wanted a boy. Kim Jiyoung is a sister made to share a room while her brother gets one of his own.
Kim Jiyoung is a female preyed upon by male teachers at school. Kim Jiyoung is a daughter whose father blames her when she is harassed late at night.
Kim Jiyoung is a good student who doesn’t get put forward for internships. Kim Jiyoung is a model employee but gets overlooked for promotion. Kim Jiyoung is a wife who gives up her career and independence for a life of domesticity.
Kim Jiyoung has started acting strangely.
Kim Jiyoung is depressed.
Kim Jiyoung is mad.
Kim Jiyoung is her own woman.
Kim Jiyoung is every woman.
Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 is the life story of one young woman born at the end of the twentieth century and raises questions about endemic misogyny and institutional oppression that are relevant to us all. Riveting, original and uncompromising, this is the most important book to have emerged from South Korea since Han Kang’s The Vegetarian.
For more on Cho Nam-Ju, visit