A Mirror for the Blind: Reflections of a Digital Seoul
(By Mu Jeong)
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| Author | Mu Jeong |
"Hi, nice to meet you. This is my third blind date this week, so... let's get the usual stuff out of the way and decide where to go from there. Great, I'll start. First, what's your age? Your academic background? How much do you make? And your parents? How many siblings do you have? Any debt in the family? How much do you have in your savings account right now? Where do you live in the city? What kind of car do you drive? Purchased or leased?"
Any office worker will tell you nearly every date opens with a conversation just like this. Ticking each of these boxes is simply what it takes to thrive in one of the most fast-paced cities on the planet, with the expectations of family and friends bearing down on you at every moment. People are always made aware of exactly what they bring to the table in terms of their relationships, their companies, their families, and even their social media profiles.
Meet a group of privileged white-collar workers navigating their way through the cutthroat corporate landscape of Seoul. As they juggle day trading, crypto investments, and real estate hustles, they're constantly comparing themselves to others, both in person and online.
The allure of glossy boy bands and psychological thrillers are just two sides of the same culture, as this novel delves into the heart of Korean society – competitive, materialistic, and unyielding.
A Mirror for the Blind was widely acclaimed in Korean literary circles for its raw portrayal of contemporary Korean society. Now, translated into English, this book grants curious readers a rare opportunity to explore the complexities of life in Korea.
As each character navigates their own personal rat race, they can't seem to shake the constant impulse to compare themselves with and be compared to others. This phenomenon embedded deep within Korean culture extends even to online spaces, like on an anonymous company chat board everyone checks religiously but no one admits to using.
Constantly looking down at the screens of their phones, they slowly begin to see their own reflections staring back at them and must face what it is that they see.
Experience the struggles, aspirations, and dreams of Seoulites as they peer into the glowing screens of their phones, searching for answers in a society where nothing is as it seems.”
