BOOK CLUB REPORT - Oct 2025
KCCNYC Dosan Hakdang August Meeting
By Casey Eckersley
On September 21, the Dosan Hakdang Book Club met to discuss Yun Ko-Eun’s novel The Disaster Tourist: a novel that (per the Atlantic) “makes the case that the identity we find through work is almost always shaped by how we have been exploited - or how we have exploited others.”
The main thing that the group agreed on was that the novel was incredibly ambitious, touching on topics of workplace harassment, poverty p*rn, and Korean travel culture in the modern age. Some points resonated, some points felt incomplete, and some points felt completely unrealistic.
For example, a significant portion of the general conversation revolved around whether or not we think we would be smart enough to not leave our luggage on the wrong side of the train while traveling in a foreign country. The group was pretty confident that we would never make such a foolish mistake, but then I think everyone thinks that until it happens to them.
This led to a very interesting discussion about the difference in travel styles, culturally, between Americans and Koreans. Some in the group familiar with the travel industry described Americans as tending to travel more independently, wanting to break off and do things that are unique or off the beaten path, while Korean travelers tend to travel in groups and prefer directions or itineraries from leaders or travel groups, which could potentially leave them more susceptible to a series of such unlikely mishaps. I’m still skeptical of the Americans-as-independent-travelers generalization, because I’ve seen some of us abroad before. Confidence does not always equal practicality.
As for our protagonist Yona Kim, we appreciated how the story grew increasingly absurd (‘Candide-like’, noted by one in the group, which is truly an excellent comparison) as it reached its startling conclusion. We thought that the final act tied together the story from beginning to end - but I won’t spoil what it is here! Read for yourself and let us know if you agree!
October DOSAN HAKDANG:
A Magical Girl Retires
In October, we are reading “A Magical Girl Retires” by Park Seolyeon (translation by Anton Hur.) This breezy read brings back that fantastical childhood daydream that a Hogwarts letter might also come for you. If faced with nonstop burnout in the adult world, you may appreciate the opportunity to relive that feeling that something magical and epic could happen, even to you but also the weight that comes with being a ‘magical girl’. We will be meeting to talk about the book on October 26th at 2:00 PM and would love for you to join!
RSVP to join us is available here.
