For That Which Cannot Be Restored

by Park Wanseo, Soobin Kim (Translator)

"I simply shrugged at her like a westerner, which did nothing to temper the bottled-up shame and simmering anger within me."



A cranky woman of letters ends up investigating after a story submitted for a writing competition at a government sponsored magazine is pulled from publication by its author, and in doing so finds a story of her own.

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction

40 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2023

Reviews

[Paul Fulcher · Rating 3 out of 5]

`Restoration' is about two fraudulent legislative elections, pre-and post-Yushin. It's written by a village chieftain, so high up in the family pedigree that even to hoary village elders he is kingmaker, envisioning a sea change that would save the village from ruin. It so happens that the only university-enrolled student of the village is studying animal husbandry, and from discussions with the youth he concludes that prosperity hinged on a shift from agriculture to livestock. The transition could not be self-propelled in such an orthodox place, however. A reliable external force would have to be harnessed to fix a collective vision onto a brighter future. And to hone in on knotty affairs like zoning, waterways, and public finance, that force would necessarily need to be drawn from a position of power.

So once election season starts, the chieftain, without thinking twice, aligns himself with a candidate of the ruling Republican Party.

For That Which Cannot Be Restored is Soobin Kim's translation of a story 복원되지 못한 것들을 위하여 by 박완서 (Park Wanseo)

This is part of the Iyagi (이야기) series from Strangers Press, eight brilliantly designed chapbooks, each featuring a short story of around 30 pages, showcasing the work of some of the most exciting Korean authors and translated by a wonderful panel, the series edited by Anton Hur (who also translates two of the books). See here for my reviews of all the books. Strangers Press also previously published a similar Yeoyu (여유): my reviews here. This novel is an exception to the series' focus on contemporary writers, in that the author passed away in 2011.

This is also a relatively complex tale for a short story, based on Korea's post WW2 history, including the aftermath of the Korean war, and the steps on the path to a full democracy in the South.

The story is set in 1987 a few months after the "선언" (June 29th declaration) which led, in December 1987, to the first open Presidential elections since the 1972
유신 (Yushin) when President Park formally assumed dictatorial powers.

[As an aside the 1987 election, conducted on first-past-the-post, was won by the governing party candidate with 37% after the two opposition candidates split the vote]

The June 29th declaration ushered in an era of openness, but with qualms given the military were still in command. The narrator begins the novel judging a short-story competition which he awards to a story 'Restoration' set around the time of the Yushin changes and which serves as something of a parable for the current political climate.

But the winning author decides to withdraw their entry from publication and, searching as to why, the narrator finds himself remembering, and revisiting the history of, a writing mentor of his who vanished (defected to the North? abducted by the Communists? executed by the South?) post the Korean war.

This was an interesting read - for the English-language reader (even one who has familiarity with Korean history) one requiring some background research. The Iyagi series has wisely foregone footnotes but an afterword would have been useful. And, perhaps as a result of that, the payback for the investment felt too low - actually I'd have preferred this fleshed out to a longer novel.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Absolutely fascinating, but, despite my predilection for short books, this felt more abbreviated than compact.

[Taina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Park Wanseon 34-sivuinen novelli vie meidät vuoden 1987 Etelä-Koreaan. Novellin päähenkilönä toimiva kirjailija pääsee valitsemaan kirjallisuuskilpailun voittajan, joka kuitenkin vetää tekstinsä pois ennen julkaisua. Vaikka ajat ovat muuttuneet, pelko diktaattoriaikojen vainoista elää vahvana. Kirjailija päättää selvittää asian taustat ja sen myötä hän palaa muistoissaan mentoriinsa, joka katosi Korean sodan jälkimainingeissa. Kiinnostava novelli, joka kuitenkin olisi vaatinut ainakin minulta parempaa Korean historian tuntemusta. Novelli olisi toiminut ehkä paremmin pidempänä tekstinä.