Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982

by Cho Nam-Joo

Entering high school meant a sudden expansion of her geographical and social world, which taught her that it was a wide world out there filled with perverts.

The girls stowed away repulsive, frightening experiences with males deep in their hearts without even realising it.

What do you want from us? The dumb girls are too dumb, the smart girls are too smart, and the average girls are too unexceptional?

According to 2014 data, women working in Korea earn only 63 per cent of what men earn; the OECD average percentage is 84.13

I’m putting my youth, health, job, colleagues, social networks, career plans and future on the line. No wonder all I can think about are the things I’m giving up. But what about you? What do you lose by gaining a child?’

Jiyoung’s mother said, ‘It’s okay, the next one will be a boy.’ Daehyun’s mother said, ‘I don’t mind.’ Jiyoung very much minded what they’d said.

I suffered deathly pain having our child. My routine, my career, my dreams, my entire life, my self – I gave it all up to raise our child.

I’ll have to make sure her replacement is unmarried.