한국국제교류재단

‘Let’s Go to the Moon’
Jang Ryujin, Changbi, 2021

Let’s Go to the Moon is the debut novel by emerging writer Jang Ryujin, who became popular with her first short story, The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work. The novel describes three women — Eunsang, Dahae, and Jisong — who work at a confectionary firm and invest in digital currency. Of its readership, many Millennial and Generation Z office workers have found the novel’s realistic description of corporate life particularly relatable. Also noteworthy is the writer’s portrayal of the three characters’ motivation to make such investments and the psychological ups and downs they experience in the process, delving into the difficult reality of young adults today.

You may have heard of the terms “FOMO” (an acronym for “fear of missing out”) and byeorak geoji (meaning “overnight beggar”). These words have come into use as younger generations who cannot imagine a secure future rush to the stock and virtual currency markets. Such efforts are desperate coping mechanisms triggered by the intensifying polarization of wealth and soaring prices of real estate and other assets that have stemmed from a prolonged period of deep-seated low growth. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant effect as well, causing a further stagnation of the shrinking job market. Let’s Go to the Moon grants its three characters a happy ending as their investments are successful, but such an outcome is hard to imagine in reality. Perhaps author Jang Ryujin made this unrealistic choice to send a message of hope to the struggling young adults of today.

I recommend this book with the hope that it will guide and uplift the many Eunsangs, Dahaes, and Jisongs in real life.

Jang RyujinLet’s Go to the Moondigital currencyyounger generations