Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982: A Novel

For Jiyoung and other women in the novel, motherhood poses a major disruption to career advancement. What kind of changes does the novel suggest could lead to greater gender equality in the workplace?

The final chapter of the novel reveals that the story has been narrated by Jiyoung’s psychiatrist. How does this narrative framing shape the meaning of the novel? Does the twist change the way you think about Jiyoung’s story?

Jiyoung and other female characters in the novel face pervasive sexual harassment throughout their lives. How does sexual harassment contribute to social and labor inequality in the novel’s depiction of South Korean society?

Korean feminists have seen a fierce backlash. Find examples from the novel of characters actively opposing fairness for women. How do they justify their views? What do these incidents reveal about social change?

How do Jiyoung’s relationships with other women contribute to her character development?

At the beginning and end of the novel, Jiyoung becomes other women and speaks in their voices. The psychiatrist—and, in turn, the book itself—is ambivalent about whether Jiyoung is suffering from a mental health condition. But he is certain that she is being sincere. How would you characterize Jiyoung’s behavior? What evidence does the novel provide for interpreting her behavior? And how does the novel’s ambiguity on this point inform its major themes?

A few Korean pop stars fostered social media discussion (and some criticism) by posting about reading the novel. What role does popular culture play in the novel? What does the novel say about the relationship between women’s rights and music, television, and film?

Jiyoung is annoyed by the unrealistic, sanitized images of motherhood and maternal love prevalent in Korean media. How do idealizations of motherhood and femininity serve as instruments of oppression in the novel?