Korean writer Shin Kyung-sook:

Greeting the audience in Vietnamese, writer Shin Kyung-sook shared that Vietnam is not a strange place, as she has traveled there many times before. However, this is the first time the leading female writer of Korean literature has come to Vietnam with her newly published book, bringing with her many stories about writing, memories and family affection - themes that are always imbued in her writings.

“When I saw readers carrying books, waiting for their autographs, I was really touched. That was my greatest joy and happiness on this trip,” she said.

Writer Shin Kyung-sook shares at an exchange with Vietnamese readers. Photo: Thien Ngan

Writer Shin Kyung-sook, born in 1963, is known for her emotional works about motherhood and family. She said that the inspiration for writing “Please Look After Mom” came from her memory at the age of 16, when she and her mother left their hometown for Seoul on a night train in 1978.

“Looking at my mother’s tired face in her hasty sleep, I promised myself that I would become a writer to write about her. It took me 30 years to fulfill that promise,” she recalled emotionally.

According to Dr. Nguyen Le Thu, lecturer of the Korean Language Department (Phenikaa University), “Please Take Care of Mom” is the work that opens the door for contemporary Korean literature to get closer to Vietnamese readers. “Maternal love and stories about family are natural meeting points between two cultures. It is that empathy that makes the work widely accepted in Vietnam,” she commented.

In “The Minute of Parting” - a collection of short stories recently released, Shin Kyung-sook continues to explore the themes of separation, loss and inner strength of human beings. The work is written from three letters, each character carries their own wounds but shares the desire to overcome the pain and move on.

She shared: “We all have someone or a few people that we can’t see again. The characters in “Farewell Minute” are the same. But overcoming the pain and sadness of separation, we still need to continue living, continue to seek faith in tomorrow.”

"The Minute of Separation", the latest novel by writer Shin Kyung-Sook, has just been released in Vietnam. Photo: Nha Nam

She said that the stories in the collection also reflect the journey of people forced to leave their homeland, live far away from home, face the past and loss. Behind them are slices of Korean history, told through the eyes of witnesses who have gone through difficult times. According to the author, “The Minute of Parting” was written during a time when she was experiencing deep personal loss. Writing is a way to heal and when she finished the work, she felt her inner self had become stronger.

“All three letters in the story mention separation, they are all sad stories. But I hope that after reading them, readers will realize that it is those losses that make our souls mature and become more resilient,” she shared.

Writer Shin Kyung-sook signs autographs for readers. Photo: Thien Ngan

For writer Shin Kyung-sook, literature is not only a place to express emotions, but also a door that opens up new perspectives on life. “Literature helps us understand others better and broaden our own worldview ,” she sent to Vietnamese readers.

Therefore, the exchange is not only an opportunity to launch new works, but also to express the warm affection of Vietnamese readers for Korean literature. “Phụt biet ly” is a message about sharing and the strength to overcome pain - the values that make Shin Kyung-sook’s literature touch the hearts of readers everywhere.