The New Yorker: "An Anonymous Island" by Yi Mun-yol

September 12, 2011: "An Anonymous Island" by Yi Mun-Yol
What is this, Asia month? Last week we had Haruki Murakami,the great Japanese writer. This week it's Yi Mun-yol, a Korean writer. Shall weexpect a Ha Jin story next week?
Not that I'm complaining. As an "old Asia hand," I lovethese writers and always enjoy reading their work. And we haven't seen nearlyenough of Yi (this story prompted me to order one of his books, in fact).
The story is set in Korea, although that isn't specified. Husband and wife are watching TVand the husband seems to disapprove of what he sees. He complains, "How did itget so easy to be anonymous?" If it's Seoul where they live (the story doesn'tsay, but it's not a rural village in any case), his complaint is reasonable,and it makes him long for his childhood home. The husband's rant sparks thewife's memory of an incident from long ago—the real story here.
She was fresh out of college and was sent to teach in aremote elementary school. It's a village that is essentially just one clan—everyoneis related either by blood or marriage—so anonymity is impossible. And yet,there's an odd stranger in town, Ggaecheol, who can't be explained. And,eventually, the wife discovers a secret about Ggaecheol and why he is tolerated.And, just to make things interesting, she becomes embroiled in the secret.
Lots to enjoy about this story, especially if you're at allinterested in Asia generally and Korea specifically. There's very goodinformation, too, in the Q&A with the translator, Heinz Insu Fenkl.