Overview

• Han Kang's latest novel, 'Unmöglicher Abschied,' examines the 1948-1949 Jeju Massacre, where over 30,000 were killed under accusations of being communists.
• The story follows Gyeongha, a writer grappling with trauma, as she uncovers her friend's family history and the atrocities on Jeju Island.
• The novel blends historical fact with poetic imagery, moving between reality and dreamlike sequences to explore grief and memory.
• Han Kang uses motifs like snow and birds to contrast the heaviness of the subject matter with moments of lightness and transcendence.
• The book continues Han Kang's exploration of South Korea's painful history, a theme central to her acclaimed works such as 'Human Acts' and 'The Vegetarian.'