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我聽見你的聲音
故事以圍繞著傑伊的人物群為核心所構成，一個接著一個，讓不同的聲音彼此呼應：罹患失語症的童年玩伴東奎；對傑伊一見鍾情的富家女木蘭；靠援交買食物的翹家少女；送披薩外賣維生的少年；以公權力恃強凌弱、人稱「騎哈雷的條子」的朴勝泰；曾經收留傑伊的女人Y，以及，記錄下這些人活過痕跡的作者……
在追溯傑伊的過往而展開的故事中，我們能發現傑伊的憤怒、東奎的悲哀，孤兒們的暴力，還有在野生現實世界流浪的青少年與成年人，他們寂寞而荒涼的生活中，所有的悲傷。
在追溯傑伊的過往而展開的故事中，我們能發現傑伊的憤怒、東奎的悲哀，孤兒們的暴力，還有在野生現實世界流浪的青少年與成年人，他們寂寞而荒涼的生活中，所有的悲傷。
256 pages, Paperback
First published February 28, 2012
23 people are currently reading
1659 people want to read
About the author
Young-ha Kim
39 books559 followersKim Young-ha is the author of seven novels, including the acclaimed I Have the Right to Destroy Myself and Black Flower - and five short story collections.
He has won every major Korean literature award, and his works have been translated into more than a dozen languages. He lives in Seoul, South Korea.
He has won every major Korean literature award, and his works have been translated into more than a dozen languages. He lives in Seoul, South Korea.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
January 19, 2022
2.5/5stars
Idk how it took me till finishing this book to realize this is my third??? From this author?? I didn't even realize I knew this author let alone that the other two books I read were from him.
This just really wasn't my cup of tea, while I can acknowledge that I think it's very well written and unique and also tell us a very interesting story about being human, I just really don't like books/movies/TV shows in this specific genre. I feel like this is just very quirky teenagers thinking they're so much more existential than everyone else, but also mixed with unnecessary violence and gangs and I'm just not a fan. I don't like gang stuff in general and find the existential stuff when the characters are literally 14 tough to care about. I really enjoyed the beginning with the MC struggling with being mute due to anxiety, but after that I just stopped caring.
Idk how it took me till finishing this book to realize this is my third??? From this author?? I didn't even realize I knew this author let alone that the other two books I read were from him.
This just really wasn't my cup of tea, while I can acknowledge that I think it's very well written and unique and also tell us a very interesting story about being human, I just really don't like books/movies/TV shows in this specific genre. I feel like this is just very quirky teenagers thinking they're so much more existential than everyone else, but also mixed with unnecessary violence and gangs and I'm just not a fan. I don't like gang stuff in general and find the existential stuff when the characters are literally 14 tough to care about. I really enjoyed the beginning with the MC struggling with being mute due to anxiety, but after that I just stopped caring.
September 16, 2017
So few authors can get away with this genre and in my opinion only one Hollywood movie masterpiece has been made within this same genre, which the author appropriately references within the book. And that's why I can't quite give this book 5 stars: this is Young-Ha Kim's ode to a sensational film writer/director: Christopher Nolan.
May 29, 2017
Jesus Christ meets Alexander Delarge as told through the Gospel of Judas. Motorcycle gangs tear through midnight Seoul and fight with cops for the right to monopolize violence. Kim remains a maestro of graceful darkness.
July 22, 2019
I love Asian literature. While not drifting into magical realism, it so often contains ‘ghosts’ or things that lie outside the boundaries of science, and this is the case with ‘I Hear your Voice’. The story of Jae and Dongyu might have been titled ‘Motorcycle Gangs meet the Messianic’, or ‘Bikers and the Buddha’. What starts as a story of two orphans growing up together in Seoul suddenly takes on a more spiritual cult like nature. I ‘m not saying I really loved it. It has its weaknesses, especially the last part that takes part four years later and is narrated by a writer trying to write about the events, but it was interesting enough to keep my attention throughout.
September 14, 2017
I can't really take more than one Young-Ha Kim book per year or so, even though he's one of my favorite authors. This is a very odd and heavy book, but an incisive view into Seoul's underbelly and the "lost kids" that inhabit it. There also seems to be a lot of symbolism that I'm sure I'm missing here (there are some obvious messianic notes, or possibly just having to do with Christianity; I'm not sure).
May 28, 2018
"Because of him, I was able to discover the infinite, invisible wilderness spinning out from beneath us."
My heart always feels so strange after reading Young-Ha Kim.
My heart always feels so strange after reading Young-Ha Kim.
November 15, 2020
CW/TW: Violence, blood, child/domestic abuse (child neglect), dubious consent, sexual assault/violence
Towards the end of this book, I'm unsure how to feel. The first half was quite strong, but I had a harder time connecting to the latter half.
(I don't attempt to really hide spoilers here, so take caution as you proceed).
The premise is quite gripping. Overall, this book is a fast read, and it wastes no time getting to the point of things. I was drawn in immediately. I Hear Your Voice centers around the dark, gritty sides of Seoul, the parts that society often ignores or are actually completely unaware of. It's also a deeply disturbing book, and at times, heavy, so those of you are cautious when it comes to violence, I do recommend that you approach with caution (I will list the content warnings down below). It focuses on young teens who are often turned away by their families, or come into the world as orphans, and are neglected. It also deals with the societal issues of how low-income class kids often wind up with the "wrong crowd" and turn to a life of crime - in this case, motorcycle gangs. And while these kids are rebellious and cause havoc across the streets, there is an emphasis on the fact that at the end of the day, they are just kids. They aren't necessarily trying to make a life out of crime; it's just the way that they can express themselves or live a life. And in turn, I think this comes from the writer's experience of observing these types of kids up close during his military enlistment period, and he learned about the dark sides of reality when it comes these "troublesome teens." This also a book that humanizes them and makes you sympathize with them, and makes you think about why these kids end up making these choices. Furthermore, having grown up in a neighbourhood where one can easily imagine a similar thing happening, these events are not completely foreign to me.
Jae is a really fascinating character; at times, he almost seems Christ-like, but I think it would seem too simplistic to cast the book off for having Christian imagery. Jae is born in a bus terminal to a teenage mother, and is quickly swept off by the neighbouring crowd, and ends up moving from home to home. He is rootless, but he learns to become self-assured. He has this idea that he's meant to do something in this world, and that he has purpose. Jae's "specialness" is emphasized from the getgo. After all, he can hear things around him -- this was a fascinating concept, and I wish there had been more done. He can talk to motorcycles and bridges, he can hear boxes and chairs. He, in that sense, is very connected to the world around him. Jae is also fascinating in the sense that he sees cruelty in the world around him, and thinks of it as deeply wrong, and wants to be the one that corrects that order. Whether or not he succeeds is something that I think is left to the reader.
On the other hand, Donggyu is interesting - reading the summary, I would've thought that he and Jae would've had a stronger bond, but it's actually not as explored/developed as I had hoped. That might be shortsighted on my part for coming into the book with expectations, but I also wonder if their ambiguous relationship was supposed to point out the elusiveness of these kids. Afterall, towards the end, the motorcycle gang racing on the bridge towards the police brigade is soon forgotten and is almost legendary. But still, Donggyu and Jae are described to each other's shadows and are regarded to be two peas in a pod, or simply are called "weird." Donggyu likes and admires Jae, but it's hard to read what Donggyu means to Jae. Of course, they'd grown up together, but at the end of this novel, I'm unsure how to describe their relationship - is it friendship? is this worship? is it brotherhood? At times, they seem like they are one in the same, but at other times, they seem so separated to see them "as one."
An aside here to say that I enjoyed Mokran's character. I like that she's a "I take no shit" kind of girl.
I don't really have else much to say about other characters - I thought Seungtae would've been a great character to show how toxic masculinity often ends up making young men more "performative" to act a certain way, look a certain way (muscles!!!! athletic!!! etc), and have certain hobbies. And in some ways, I think the smart reader with reading comprehension will see this. But I do wish that he didn't self-villainize his own gayness, and that he realized that what that older man to him was wrong and manipulative, and I wish that these events hadn't turned Seungtae into a problematic, "evil" character. He's obviously the antagonist, but I wish that there wasn't this perpetuation that him being gay or unaccepting of his gay identity is what makes him bad (well, I think that a smart reader would be able to recognize that, but a lot of readers will also automatically assume "gay" and "bad" together, so that's not fun at all). EDIT: the term I was looking for Seungtae was queer villain.
I think there was supposed to be juxtaposition between Jae and Seungtae, because Jae ultimately becomes powerful and attains admirance in the way that Seungtae can't have and constantly seeks. Again, I think this book lacks a lot of exposition in characters themselves (the beginning half was quite good at it, but it seemed to disappear towards the latter half), and in between character relationships, I simply wish there was more building so we could feel emotional impact (especially at this betrayal-that-was-not-quite-a-betrayal).
The end and the beginning are quite different - which made the narrative structure, and the way that book is divided into parts, was interesting. I think it reflects on how surreal and strange the events that surrounded Jae and Donggyu are. Furthermore, I appreciated the last part where it seems to be coming from the author's perspective about these real-life events, which is trippy, because how much of is this real or fiction? The lines blur. It reminds me a lot of the last chapter of Han Kang's Human Acts.
TL;DR: Overall a very introspective, dark, gritty read about the "troubled" youth who run a motorcycle gang in the streets of Seoul.
Towards the end of this book, I'm unsure how to feel. The first half was quite strong, but I had a harder time connecting to the latter half.
(I don't attempt to really hide spoilers here, so take caution as you proceed).
The premise is quite gripping. Overall, this book is a fast read, and it wastes no time getting to the point of things. I was drawn in immediately. I Hear Your Voice centers around the dark, gritty sides of Seoul, the parts that society often ignores or are actually completely unaware of. It's also a deeply disturbing book, and at times, heavy, so those of you are cautious when it comes to violence, I do recommend that you approach with caution (I will list the content warnings down below). It focuses on young teens who are often turned away by their families, or come into the world as orphans, and are neglected. It also deals with the societal issues of how low-income class kids often wind up with the "wrong crowd" and turn to a life of crime - in this case, motorcycle gangs. And while these kids are rebellious and cause havoc across the streets, there is an emphasis on the fact that at the end of the day, they are just kids. They aren't necessarily trying to make a life out of crime; it's just the way that they can express themselves or live a life. And in turn, I think this comes from the writer's experience of observing these types of kids up close during his military enlistment period, and he learned about the dark sides of reality when it comes these "troublesome teens." This also a book that humanizes them and makes you sympathize with them, and makes you think about why these kids end up making these choices. Furthermore, having grown up in a neighbourhood where one can easily imagine a similar thing happening, these events are not completely foreign to me.
Jae is a really fascinating character; at times, he almost seems Christ-like, but I think it would seem too simplistic to cast the book off for having Christian imagery. Jae is born in a bus terminal to a teenage mother, and is quickly swept off by the neighbouring crowd, and ends up moving from home to home. He is rootless, but he learns to become self-assured. He has this idea that he's meant to do something in this world, and that he has purpose. Jae's "specialness" is emphasized from the getgo. After all, he can hear things around him -- this was a fascinating concept, and I wish there had been more done. He can talk to motorcycles and bridges, he can hear boxes and chairs. He, in that sense, is very connected to the world around him. Jae is also fascinating in the sense that he sees cruelty in the world around him, and thinks of it as deeply wrong, and wants to be the one that corrects that order. Whether or not he succeeds is something that I think is left to the reader.
On the other hand, Donggyu is interesting - reading the summary, I would've thought that he and Jae would've had a stronger bond, but it's actually not as explored/developed as I had hoped. That might be shortsighted on my part for coming into the book with expectations, but I also wonder if their ambiguous relationship was supposed to point out the elusiveness of these kids. Afterall, towards the end, the motorcycle gang racing on the bridge towards the police brigade is soon forgotten and is almost legendary. But still, Donggyu and Jae are described to each other's shadows and are regarded to be two peas in a pod, or simply are called "weird." Donggyu likes and admires Jae, but it's hard to read what Donggyu means to Jae. Of course, they'd grown up together, but at the end of this novel, I'm unsure how to describe their relationship - is it friendship? is this worship? is it brotherhood? At times, they seem like they are one in the same, but at other times, they seem so separated to see them "as one."
An aside here to say that I enjoyed Mokran's character. I like that she's a "I take no shit" kind of girl.
I don't really have else much to say about other characters - I thought Seungtae would've been a great character to show how toxic masculinity often ends up making young men more "performative" to act a certain way, look a certain way (muscles!!!! athletic!!! etc), and have certain hobbies. And in some ways, I think the smart reader with reading comprehension will see this. But I do wish that he didn't self-villainize his own gayness, and that he realized that what that older man to him was wrong and manipulative, and I wish that these events hadn't turned Seungtae into a problematic, "evil" character. He's obviously the antagonist, but I wish that there wasn't this perpetuation that him being gay or unaccepting of his gay identity is what makes him bad (well, I think that a smart reader would be able to recognize that, but a lot of readers will also automatically assume "gay" and "bad" together, so that's not fun at all). EDIT: the term I was looking for Seungtae was queer villain.
I think there was supposed to be juxtaposition between Jae and Seungtae, because Jae ultimately becomes powerful and attains admirance in the way that Seungtae can't have and constantly seeks. Again, I think this book lacks a lot of exposition in characters themselves (the beginning half was quite good at it, but it seemed to disappear towards the latter half), and in between character relationships, I simply wish there was more building so we could feel emotional impact (especially at this betrayal-that-was-not-quite-a-betrayal).
The end and the beginning are quite different - which made the narrative structure, and the way that book is divided into parts, was interesting. I think it reflects on how surreal and strange the events that surrounded Jae and Donggyu are. Furthermore, I appreciated the last part where it seems to be coming from the author's perspective about these real-life events, which is trippy, because how much of is this real or fiction? The lines blur. It reminds me a lot of the last chapter of Han Kang's Human Acts.
TL;DR: Overall a very introspective, dark, gritty read about the "troubled" youth who run a motorcycle gang in the streets of Seoul.
August 20, 2017
The opening of this novel with the birth of the boy Jae in a bus terminal bathroom stall in Seoul is stunning and I wish I could say the book held its allure through the remainder of its pages.
I loved Kim's 2012 novel Black Flower about Koreans who sought freedom and fortune in Mexico in the early 20th century, and I hoped this would be equally enjoyable. Unfortunately, after the first two of its five parts I found it disjointed, confusing and, at some points, boring.
Abandoned by his mother, Jae is informally adopted by Mama Pig, who operates a snack shop near the bus terminal. Jae becomes friends with Dongyu, a boy near his own age who suffers from aphonia. Jae functions as his mute friend's voice, drawing them closer to one another.
When Mama Pig falls victim to alcohol and drug addiction the neglected Jae is sent to an orphanage. The two boys reunite in their teen years when Jae is living a rough life on the streets and Dongyu has regained speech and is a student. Kim paints a gritty portrait of life on the streets of modern Seoul.
Eventually Jae becomes a sort of messiah to motorcycle gangs and teenage runaways. Dongyu, enticed equally by Jae and by Mokran, a homeless girl, leaves his family to join them.
For me, from there, the story spiraled downhill, drifting between sections of stark realism, fantasy and mysticism with little depth to newly introduced characters.
I loved Kim's 2012 novel Black Flower about Koreans who sought freedom and fortune in Mexico in the early 20th century, and I hoped this would be equally enjoyable. Unfortunately, after the first two of its five parts I found it disjointed, confusing and, at some points, boring.
Abandoned by his mother, Jae is informally adopted by Mama Pig, who operates a snack shop near the bus terminal. Jae becomes friends with Dongyu, a boy near his own age who suffers from aphonia. Jae functions as his mute friend's voice, drawing them closer to one another.
When Mama Pig falls victim to alcohol and drug addiction the neglected Jae is sent to an orphanage. The two boys reunite in their teen years when Jae is living a rough life on the streets and Dongyu has regained speech and is a student. Kim paints a gritty portrait of life on the streets of modern Seoul.
Eventually Jae becomes a sort of messiah to motorcycle gangs and teenage runaways. Dongyu, enticed equally by Jae and by Mokran, a homeless girl, leaves his family to join them.
For me, from there, the story spiraled downhill, drifting between sections of stark realism, fantasy and mysticism with little depth to newly introduced characters.
April 4, 2024
Psychologically disturbing, exploring the dark reality of abandonment, abuse and violence of the runaways teenager and gang culture. I hear your voice started strong with bloody and gory detailed scene of a childbirth in a public bathroom by a young girl whom desperately goes into a labour in one of the bathroom stalls. The wailing or crying of the baby is what alerted the people outside & the fate of the infant was saved from the hands of the new mother attempted to silence the newborn. Its cruelty in the first chapter was meant to shock reader, to realize that this kind of act did happen all over the world, a desperate attempt to conceal a pregnancy, a crime willingly committed in order to not be shackled by the unwanted child. From the moment I read this, i was thoroughly invested and could not stop reading it as I need to know the baby's fate
The young infant was taken care by a woman nicknamed Mama Pig, he grew up as Jae in an apartment alongside another boy, Donggyu. Donggyu suffered from aphonia, an anxiety illness that made him mute, a psychological sickness. Jae and Donggyu was tight as friends, Jae always seems to undestand what his friends want to talk about as if he can hear Donggyu's voice.
The young infant was taken care by a woman nicknamed Mama Pig, he grew up as Jae in an apartment alongside another boy, Donggyu. Donggyu suffered from aphonia, an anxiety illness that made him mute, a psychological sickness. Jae and Donggyu was tight as friends, Jae always seems to undestand what his friends want to talk about as if he can hear Donggyu's voice.
September 14, 2017
It took me ages to read this, not because I couldn't read the book itself, but because I had acute dry eyes and couldn't read anything. I read Part 1 when I was fine, and then finished the rest yesterday after I was better, two weeks later. I don't know if the disconnect with the book was because of that. Because Part 1 was masterful. The rest, I didn't even know if I was reading the same book as Part 1.
In Part 5, the author mentions that he had too many strands of the story, and had to try really hard thinning the book down. It does show. But there are still too many strands, with the result that nothing actually makes complete sense. The author is aware of that too - that there were gaps in the story and that he let it be. But what worked for the author didn't work for this reader. Wish it did.
In Part 5, the author mentions that he had too many strands of the story, and had to try really hard thinning the book down. It does show. But there are still too many strands, with the result that nothing actually makes complete sense. The author is aware of that too - that there were gaps in the story and that he let it be. But what worked for the author didn't work for this reader. Wish it did.
May 8, 2017
A very different but interesting book.Jae and all his thoughts and ideas made for an interesting read.I dont know how to categorize this book but if you want an interesting read try this book.I received this book free as part of goodreads giveaways.
November 24, 2025
Listen to my review on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuqgA... & https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSWEr...
Read my review on Substack here - https://barrywelsh1.substack.com/p/re...
Read my review on Substack here - https://barrywelsh1.substack.com/p/re...
September 21, 2017
3.5/5 un roman sur des jeunes SDF en Corée du Sud et le rejet de la société (bourgeoise) de ces "petites imperfections" qui dérangent... L'écriture était plutôt ennuyeuse mais les idées ne manquaient pas de profondeur.
October 10, 2020
Holy shitttt I didn’t know what he was doing and wasn’t into it for the first FOUR FIFTHS of the book but the last fifth of the book completely altered everything that had come before. This book is INCREDIBLE, so worth a read and I’m so excited to delve into the rest of his work. 10/10 so so so good.
December 29, 2018
A very unique coming of age fiction divided by three stages of plot that totally giving me a rare insight and thoughts. The starting chapter was very intriguing and emotional-- the story of Jae was a bit depressing but Donggyu's story was as well kind of disturbing. Two little boys with different background but sharing a sorrowful fate. I love the friendship at the beginning and the narrative was somehow giving me a heartbreaking truth about the real hardship of living in a troubled home life. The middle part shifting its plot to a story of youth motorcycle gang, a different view of Jae's life and a bit of Donggyu-- quite intense and thrilled, culture conflicts involving the authority and community as a whole, teenage runaways and all these rebellious, violence and teenage prostitution. Descriptive but not much gripping my attention, think I only managed to read it further cause of Jae. This part was a bit draggy to me but it gave me a kind of interesting image of Seoul. My favorite would be the last chapter. It shifted again to a totally different perspective, from a fiction writer's view who was interested in writing about Jae and Donggyu. This part was more melancholic and drama-ish, but I love that it flows more beautifully and well structured.
I think the review by John Darnielle on blurb was super precise. Kim Young Ha's writing was dark and giving you an unusual reading experience cause of his style in here was segregated to various plot that some might think it was bizarre and totally disjointed. It journeyed your curiosity in different stages, you might want to read further or just disliking it totally. The ending leaving me a bitter after-taste, but I somehow love it.
I think the review by John Darnielle on blurb was super precise. Kim Young Ha's writing was dark and giving you an unusual reading experience cause of his style in here was segregated to various plot that some might think it was bizarre and totally disjointed. It journeyed your curiosity in different stages, you might want to read further or just disliking it totally. The ending leaving me a bitter after-taste, but I somehow love it.
May 3, 2021
Oplakala sam je...
February 16, 2018
I gave this book 2 stars, if not for the book club I was participating in I would definitely have DNFed it.
For a book about 2 male protagonists in a very grim place, set in Asia, with some surreal elements, I definitely recommend Coin Locker Babies by Murakami Ryû more than this one.
I don't often read books with strong social commentaries but when I do the story has to be strong, otherwise it's just depressing and I give up on the book. I don't think the story was good enough to make me want to keep reading (again, Murakami Ryû achieved that for me).
I felt like there were so many different plot lines, and none of them was explored in depth, so I did not feel at all interested in the stories or what would happen to the characters.
Overall I liked parts 1 and 2 but afterwards the new characters were 2-dimensional, the setting was not compelling (I'm sure motorcycle gangs could be more interesting than this, come on!) and I was really bored.
So in the end I'm glad this was not longer and will not read anything else by this author.
For a book about 2 male protagonists in a very grim place, set in Asia, with some surreal elements, I definitely recommend Coin Locker Babies by Murakami Ryû more than this one.
I don't often read books with strong social commentaries but when I do the story has to be strong, otherwise it's just depressing and I give up on the book. I don't think the story was good enough to make me want to keep reading (again, Murakami Ryû achieved that for me).
I felt like there were so many different plot lines, and none of them was explored in depth, so I did not feel at all interested in the stories or what would happen to the characters.
Overall I liked parts 1 and 2 but afterwards the new characters were 2-dimensional, the setting was not compelling (I'm sure motorcycle gangs could be more interesting than this, come on!) and I was really bored.
So in the end I'm glad this was not longer and will not read anything else by this author.
February 17, 2018
DNF it after read 35% of the book.
I want to love this book so bad!! But this book wasn't for me. I quite fond of the writing style and I like how it gave the readers different perspectives of Korean with low income lifestyle.
But, I feel the story didn't go anywhere and I didn't have any idea what the author aim for the story. And I'm a little uncomfortable by Child Abuse, rape, and violence towards woman in the story.
I want to love this book so bad!! But this book wasn't for me. I quite fond of the writing style and I like how it gave the readers different perspectives of Korean with low income lifestyle.
But, I feel the story didn't go anywhere and I didn't have any idea what the author aim for the story. And I'm a little uncomfortable by Child Abuse, rape, and violence towards woman in the story.
September 23, 2025
If you’ve ever craved a story that mixes the raw grit of street life with a dash of the supernatural, then 'I Hear Your Voice' is exactly the kind of book that will grab you by the collar and pull you in deep. This novel takes us on a gripping journey through the underbelly of Seoul, exploring the world of gangs, street children, and moral dilemmas, all wrapped in a layer of psychological intrigue.
At the heart of this novel is Jae, a telepathic orphan navigating the brutal streets of Seoul. His only true companion is Donggyu, his childhood friend, that ties them together in a world where loyalty is rare, and survival is never guaranteed. The two become entangled in a gritty web of crime and gang life, where every day is a fight to stay alive—not just physically, but mentally and spiritually too. What makes Jae unique isn’t just his gift of hearing others' thoughts but his growing awareness of the burden that comes with knowing too much.
To me, what makes this novel stand out are (1) the characters that linger long after you’ve finished the last page: Jae isn’t your typical hero; he’s rough around the edges, deeply flawed, and so real that you might just find yourself rooting for him in spite of everything. His telepathic ability isn't just a gimmick—it serves as a window into the hidden fears, desires, and darkness of those around him. It forces us to confront uncomfortable truths about humanity, empathy, and morality. (2) A raw, unfiltered look at seoul’s criminal underworld: Young-ha Kim’s portrayal of Seoul’s street life is vivid, unapologetic, and brimming with tension. The city is not just a backdrop but a living, breathing entity that shapes and suffocates the characters within it. You can almost feel the grime on your skin and the weight of the oppressive atmosphere. It’s a world where desperation is palpable, and every choice comes with a price. (3) A refreshingly unique blend of crime drama and the supernatural: Forget your typical supernatural stories—this one stands out. The way Kim integrates Jae’s telepathy into the gritty realism of gang life is masterful. It’s not about magic or fantasy; it’s about using an extraordinary ability to explore the very ordinary, yet profound, nature of human connection and disconnection. This isn’t a story of superpowers; it’s a story of survival and introspection.
There were several things too that made me lose interest when reading this novel among a slow burn that requires patience, while the story is packed with tension, it isn’t always fast-paced. There are moments where the narrative slows down to focus on character introspection, which might feel sluggish for readers expecting constant action. But for those who appreciate a deeper dive into character psyche, this is where the book truly shines. Then, a gritty, unforgiving world. This isn’t a light read. It tackles heavy themes like violence, poverty, and moral ambiguity, and it doesn’t hold back. If you’re looking for a feel-good story, this might not be it. But if you’re ready for a raw and thought-provoking experience, you’re in the right place.
Young-ha Kim delivers a narrative that is both thrilling and introspective, one that challenges the reader to look beyond the surface. It’s a book that asks difficult questions: What does it mean to truly hear another person? What price do we pay for our choices? And can there ever be redemption in a world that seems so unforgiving? For those who are willing to take the plunge into the darker, more complex corners of the human soul, 'I Hear Your Voice' is a must-read. It’s not just a book—it’s a haunting, unforgettable journey.
So, are you ready to hear their voices?
At the heart of this novel is Jae, a telepathic orphan navigating the brutal streets of Seoul. His only true companion is Donggyu, his childhood friend, that ties them together in a world where loyalty is rare, and survival is never guaranteed. The two become entangled in a gritty web of crime and gang life, where every day is a fight to stay alive—not just physically, but mentally and spiritually too. What makes Jae unique isn’t just his gift of hearing others' thoughts but his growing awareness of the burden that comes with knowing too much.
To me, what makes this novel stand out are (1) the characters that linger long after you’ve finished the last page: Jae isn’t your typical hero; he’s rough around the edges, deeply flawed, and so real that you might just find yourself rooting for him in spite of everything. His telepathic ability isn't just a gimmick—it serves as a window into the hidden fears, desires, and darkness of those around him. It forces us to confront uncomfortable truths about humanity, empathy, and morality. (2) A raw, unfiltered look at seoul’s criminal underworld: Young-ha Kim’s portrayal of Seoul’s street life is vivid, unapologetic, and brimming with tension. The city is not just a backdrop but a living, breathing entity that shapes and suffocates the characters within it. You can almost feel the grime on your skin and the weight of the oppressive atmosphere. It’s a world where desperation is palpable, and every choice comes with a price. (3) A refreshingly unique blend of crime drama and the supernatural: Forget your typical supernatural stories—this one stands out. The way Kim integrates Jae’s telepathy into the gritty realism of gang life is masterful. It’s not about magic or fantasy; it’s about using an extraordinary ability to explore the very ordinary, yet profound, nature of human connection and disconnection. This isn’t a story of superpowers; it’s a story of survival and introspection.
There were several things too that made me lose interest when reading this novel among a slow burn that requires patience, while the story is packed with tension, it isn’t always fast-paced. There are moments where the narrative slows down to focus on character introspection, which might feel sluggish for readers expecting constant action. But for those who appreciate a deeper dive into character psyche, this is where the book truly shines. Then, a gritty, unforgiving world. This isn’t a light read. It tackles heavy themes like violence, poverty, and moral ambiguity, and it doesn’t hold back. If you’re looking for a feel-good story, this might not be it. But if you’re ready for a raw and thought-provoking experience, you’re in the right place.
Young-ha Kim delivers a narrative that is both thrilling and introspective, one that challenges the reader to look beyond the surface. It’s a book that asks difficult questions: What does it mean to truly hear another person? What price do we pay for our choices? And can there ever be redemption in a world that seems so unforgiving? For those who are willing to take the plunge into the darker, more complex corners of the human soul, 'I Hear Your Voice' is a must-read. It’s not just a book—it’s a haunting, unforgettable journey.
So, are you ready to hear their voices?
“With fiction, just because you begin with the truth doesn't mean you have the truth, and just because it's fiction doesn't mean it's made up.”
October 7, 2017
Fictionalized account of youth motorcycle gangs in South Korea. South Korea has a rough educational system and the pressure on youth cause many to just drop out of society and live on the margins in Seoul and other cities in motorcycle gangs. Jae is a legendary figure because when he drove off a bridge to escape police, he was a powerful leader of many gangs and it is said his body rose up out of the water in a Christ like way. Jae was born in the bathroom at Seoul’s major bus station and taken in by a woman who was close to homeless. He then was brought up in an orphanage and reform school. Escaping to the streets was a safe haven for him and he was greatly admired by homeless kids who saw his leadership and motorcycle skills. A young man who has selective mutism becomes his friend and leaves the home of his police officer father to stay with Jae. A young woman also becomes Jae’s girlfriend. As Jae becomes more powerful, even raiding a police station with his gang, his male friend decides to turn Jae over to the police leading to a huge brawl between police and the motorcycle gangs on the streets of Seoul. Interesting book that while not perfect, led me into a hidden world I didn’t know about.
December 1, 2019
A postmodernist novel with some "magical realist" elements, this has a similar bleak feel to I Have the Right to Destroy Myself. The book is set mainly in Seoul, and deals with economically and social marginal characters, mostly runaway teenagers, who alternate between part-time minimum wage jobs and homelessness and prostitution. The central character is an orphan, Jae, born in a bus station restroom to a teenage mother, rescued by and then later abandoned by a low-paid working woman who becomes unemployed and addicted to meth, escapes from an orphanage and lives on the street or with small groups of other runaway teens, and ultimately becomes the charismatic leader of a teen motorcycle gang which is in conflict with the police. The first person (and as we ultimately learn, very unreliable) narrator for most of the book is his childhood friend Donggyu, the emotionally disturbed son of a policeman, who initially suffers from aphonia and later runs away himself. Near the end the narrative shifts to a novelist who is researching the story for the novel and we see some of the events from other perspectives, making it uncertain how much of the earlier narrative is true. Jae has (or believes he has) certain paranormal abilities.
August 5, 2017
Homeless Korean motorcycle gang teens, with a touch of autofiction. John Darnielle blurb makes sense.
March 10, 2018
3.75/5 rounded up.
Fantastically interesting story, however, I had two big problems with this book.
1. It really wasn't clear what time period each chapter or part was taking place in nor which person was doing the narration at that specific point in time. One chapter would be narrated by one person, and then the next chapter would switch over to someone completely different. This could be easily fixed with a year and the narrator's title at the top of each chapter.
2. Because of the simplistic writing style for the dialogue, it wasn't very clear who was speaking at certain times. This caused me to reread conversations between characters multiple times. This could be easily fixed by adding more details such as "Jae said" or "Mokran said."
Fantastically interesting story, however, I had two big problems with this book.
1. It really wasn't clear what time period each chapter or part was taking place in nor which person was doing the narration at that specific point in time. One chapter would be narrated by one person, and then the next chapter would switch over to someone completely different. This could be easily fixed with a year and the narrator's title at the top of each chapter.
2. Because of the simplistic writing style for the dialogue, it wasn't very clear who was speaking at certain times. This caused me to reread conversations between characters multiple times. This could be easily fixed by adding more details such as "Jae said" or "Mokran said."
February 28, 2017
I thought the beginning of this book was spectacular, but it started to fall apart in the middle when the main character leaves to join a motorcycle gang. Kim writes beautifully in first person, but I felt like his third-person narrations fell a little flat and felt as if I were seeing everything from a great distance. I liked when the book was poetic in its realism - not so much when Kim tries to turn to the metaphysical. Not a terrible read, but definitely not one of my favorites. Would consider reading other things by this author, however.
June 7, 2021
It follows two orphans, Jae and Dongyu, in the underbelly of 90's Seoul. As South Korea was emerging as a developed nation - and then underwent a huge financial crisis - their lives take separate paths that continue to intersect. Eventually, Jae becomes the leader of a motorcycle gang and Dongyu joins.
Half story of the gritty, forgotten corners of Seoul society, half modern-day tale of Buddha, this might be my favorite novel from Kim, who is easily my favorite Korean writer at this point. Highly recommend it.
Half story of the gritty, forgotten corners of Seoul society, half modern-day tale of Buddha, this might be my favorite novel from Kim, who is easily my favorite Korean writer at this point. Highly recommend it.
May 8, 2017
Received this as an ARC for which I am very appreciative.
This was the first novel I have read of Young-Ha Kim, an important young(ish) Korean writer. He has a compelling style and quickly plunges you into the underbelly of Seoul. We follow two boys growing up, surviving and , essentially, conquering, their squalid conditions rising to the role of some sort of hero. There is a sense of environment that is quite powerful as is the bond between the two friends.
I will look for more of his work.
This was the first novel I have read of Young-Ha Kim, an important young(ish) Korean writer. He has a compelling style and quickly plunges you into the underbelly of Seoul. We follow two boys growing up, surviving and , essentially, conquering, their squalid conditions rising to the role of some sort of hero. There is a sense of environment that is quite powerful as is the bond between the two friends.
I will look for more of his work.
May 12, 2018
Some parts feel a little too YA for me, but the events that the main character endures are definitely adult. The translation is good, though some story points are awkward when translated across cultures--e.g. the teenage biker gang and dancing group for me put me off the story. In the end, these are personal, and somewhat unavoidable, complaints. Nonetheless, Kim is seen as an extremely talented writer in his country, and I plan on reading more from him.
July 10, 2017
A look at the forgotten, overlooked outcasts of South Korea; This tale of two orphans will pull you in with an extraordinary unexplainable magic trick, take you to places you may not want to go and remind you of the power of friendship. The wild ride will mesmerizes you then surprise you. Couldn't put this novel down.
May 17, 2018
Good book. Had a few lines in the book written down that could potentially lead to great discussions; some that were just beautifully written. New point of view. Its argued that the turbulence and shame of their surroundings made them unable to be heard yet the author tried too hard to pack too many voices in 259 pages.
May 23, 2021
major major content warnings for this book fyi but this is for sure my favorite of young-ha kim’s from what i’ve read so far. his straightforward writing helps me envision everything and every character so clearly in my own interpretation and i really bit my tongue and sped thru this. feels like something i might try annotating in the future
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