South Korean actor and writer Cha In-pyo’s novel on the issue of comfort women during the Japanese occupation, “Once We Look at the Same Star,” has been designated as required reading at the University of Oxford.
Cha’s wife, Shin Ae-ra, shared on her social media on June 30, “My husband’s novel has been selected as required reading at Oxford University. Starting next semester, it will be used in Korean studies courses and will be available in all Oxford University libraries.” She added, “I hope that the annual ‘Oxford Korean Literature Festival’ will continue to introduce Korean literature and authors to Europe.”
Originally published in 2009 under the title “Goodbye Hill,” the novel was reissued in 2021 as “Once We Look at the Same Star.” It highlights the plight of the Imperial Japanese Army’s comfort women during the colonial rule through the story of the grandmother Suni, discovered on a small Philippine island 70 years after leaving her homeland.
Cha explained at the first “Oxford Korean Literature Festival” on June 28 that the book was conceived after seeing a grandmother who had been taken as a comfort woman to Cambodia, and it took 10 years to complete. He said that despite his anger about the comfort women issue, he realized writing with just negative emotions was ineffective. He wrote with the question in mind, “How can I explain this issue to my child?”
The Oxford Korean Literature Festival is an annual event that showcases notable Korean literature and invites authors for lectures. This year’s event was part of the cultural program supported by the “Window on Korea” section of the National Library of Korea.
Cha has authored three full-length novels, starting with “Goodbye Hill” in 2009, followed by “Today’s Forecast” in 2011, and “Mermaid Hunting” in 2022.
