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A review by bethniamh
Another Person by Kang Hwagil
4.0
I went in relatively blind to this book, and that's how I would recommend others approach it too. It starts out from a point very familiar to many of us in a post #MeToo world, but the story switches between narrators and frequently upends what we think to be true and who our sympathies lie with. The final twist wasn't really a surprise as it had been signposted throughout, but that didn't make it any less satisfying, instead playing into the idea that those who are publicly revealed to be perpetrators of rape and sexual assault often already had rumours swirling long before that point.
Having lived in Korea for a number of years, I had prior knowledge of the culture and language which helped my understanding of the story's backdrop; however, others who don't have this experience may struggle to parse the meaning of some of the terms used (such as 'hoobae', 'sunbae' etc.) or the heavy emphasis Korean culture places on age as a dictator of hierarchy. A glossary of terms or translator's note may be useful in future editions.
Having lived in Korea for a number of years, I had prior knowledge of the culture and language which helped my understanding of the story's backdrop; however, others who don't have this experience may struggle to parse the meaning of some of the terms used (such as 'hoobae', 'sunbae' etc.) or the heavy emphasis Korean culture places on age as a dictator of hierarchy. A glossary of terms or translator's note may be useful in future editions.