[57th Modern Korean Literature Translation Awards] Fiction Commendation Award: 'Bead by Bead'
Written by Jeong Ji-a Translated by Jude Vandervort Excerpt from 'Bead by Bead' I have been with you since the moment I drew my first breath. Yet for the longest time, you never noticed. Did it make me sad to both be there and not be there? Sometimes, yes; sometimes, no. More often than not, I pitied you, as you gradually succumbed to me, completely unaware. At this very moment, I totally control…
![[57th Modern Korean Literature Translation Awards] Fiction Commendation Award: 'Bead by Bead'](/img/19229834)
In the 57th Modern Korean Literature Translation Awards, the Fiction Commendation Award was presented to Bead by Bead, a work written by Jeong Ji-a and translated by Jude Vandervort. The story revolves around an unseen presence that is always present, yet goes unnoticed by its subject. This entity gradually takes control, merging with the subject until they become one.
The narrative takes place in a quiet setting near the Seomjin River, where a cherry tree orchard is in full bloom. The protagonist, who has been with the entity since birth, remembers a specific spring day ten years ago when the subject was ninety years old. On that day, the cherry blossoms had fallen all around them, and a single petal floated past their window.
Despite their struggles to recall the event, the protagonist pities the subject, who is unaware of the impending transformation.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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