[57th Modern Korean Literature Translation Awards] Fiction Grand Prize: How to Get Your Deposit Back
Written by Cho Ye-eun Translated by Breanna Hundley Excerpt from 'How to Get Your Deposit Back' Security deposit: 30 million won Monthly rent: 550,000 won Maintenance fee: 150,000 won (not included in rent) There were just under two months left until Seongah’s lease ended. She had given the landlord notice about two weeks before, which legally, was more than enough time to prepare for the…
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The 57th Modern Korean Literature Translation Awards recently announced its Fiction Grand Prize winner. The highly acclaimed novel, "How to Get Your Deposit Back," will be translated into English by renowned translator Breanna Hundley.
The story follows Seongah, a tenant facing the end of her lease. With just under two months remaining, she had given her landlord notice, which legally satisfied the required time frame. Consequently, there was no obstacle to returning her security deposit of 30 million won.
Seongah's financial predicament became more complicated the day before she anticipated the deposit refund. A family call from her rural hometown revealed that her younger brother needed to enroll in a cram school, requiring an immediate 5 million won transfer from her mother. Knowing that her deposit would be returned soon, Seongah decided to proceed with the transfer.
After the phone call, Seongah's remaining funds were reduced to 25 million won. This sum, while substantial, raised concerns about potential issues in her next rental property. It hinted at the possibility of encountering moldy wallpaper or windows that had been installed illegally, raising questions about the quality and legality of the tenancy.
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.
