7·31의 북토크…‘친일’ 문제 앞, 우리는 얼마나 무심한가 [.txt]

On July 31st, a special North Korean Book Talk took place at Seoul's Maehwa Square underground concert hall. Wearing black suits and black scarves, employees guarded the entrance as readers arrived with masks and LED candles. Once the clock struck eight, around 100 readers, all wearing masks, sat in a dimly lit room, whispering in silence.

The night's host, Yunhyeong Maket, a female marketeer from the publishing house Flow Publishing, emerged in a white mask. "How many humans are here? Are you human?" he asked the audience. The 'Masked Storytelling' event was inaugurated to commemorate the release of Yunhyeong's first book, 'Inbiin' (人非人), from which the conversation began.

The author questioned what defines a human, highlighting that the term can also describe non-human entities. He further discussed how 'Inbiin' represents the boundary between humans and non-humans. The readers shared five stories from the collection, each complementing the short stories within. The author emphasized that the most frightening aspect is not the incomprehensible existence but the person who fails to explain it.

The story naturally transitioned to Yunhyeong's novel 'Inbiin,' which was based on the experiments conducted by the infamous Unit 731 during the Japanese occupation. This reminded the audience of the nation's indifference towards the issue. The publisher's decision to host the North Korean Book Talk on July 31st was also linked to their resolve to never forget this disgrace.

As the stories concluded, the conversation shifted to what makes humans unique in the age of artificial intelligence. The author responded with 'shame,' stating that AI quickly apologizes and moves on, while humans feel guilty. Yunhyeong drew inspiration from his illiterate grandmother's 'TV Literature,' Yeong-ae Lee's 'Terminal of Equality,' and Icheonjun's 'Tiger and Crane,' expressing his desire to write accessible literature for all generations.

He stated that he would have become 'Yuandon' if born during the Japanese occupation. Ultimately, the author emphasized that the true essence of humanity lies in the questions we ask each other, and they felt both proud and fearful knowing that such a courageous writer exists among them.