South Korean author Cho Nam-joo: `My book is braver than I am´
(The Guardian South Korea)

The former screenwriter on how her novel addressing gender inequality became a bestseller in South Korea, sparking urgent public debateCho Nam-joo, 41, is a former television scriptwriter whose novel Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 became a hotly debated bestseller in South Korea when it was published in 2016, coinciding with the country´s #MeToo movement. Now published in English, Cho´s book uses the story of one woman to reveal gender inequality in all parts of South Korean society, from the privileging of male children to workplace discrimination and harassment. (Despite having the world´s 12th largest economy, a recent gender gap report ranks South Korea 108 out of 153.) Cho lives with her family in Seoul. What was the reaction to the book in South Korea?Readers said they could really relate to the story - women said that it was like their own life. There were some cases where celebrities were attacked [online] for reading it. It provided an opportunity for public debate, so I have some pride for making a small contribution. Continue reading...