Author Park Sang-young Seeks to Diversify His Literary Style

South Korean author Park Sang-young, known for his poignant portrayals of contemporary youth and queer experiences, is setting his sights on new literary horizons. With the release of his latest novel, 'The Woman Who Wore a Straw Crown,' Park expresses a desire to move beyond his established niche, likening his ambition to a baseball player capable of playing both pitcher and hitter.

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I can now be a dual-role writer.

"I can now be a dual-role writer," Park stated, referring to his newfound ability to venture into different genres. His new novel delves into the history of South Korean conglomerates, known as chaebols, weaving a mystery thriller narrative. This marks a significant departure from his previous works, such as 'Love in the Big City,' which earned him a Booker International Prize nomination and drew heavily from his personal experiences with relationships and daily life in Seoul, and 'I Want to Be Level 1,' which explored memories from his teenage years.

Park acknowledged that while he appreciates being recognized for his unique voice in depicting modern urban life and queer stories, he also felt confined by the "one-trick pony" label. "I've mostly written about the love lives of contemporary urban dwellers or queer stories. So, many people thought that was my only strength," he explained. "While I'm grateful for those descriptions, they also felt like they were boxing me in."

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Now I feel like I've become a writer who can go into worlds I know nothing about.

With 'The Woman Who Wore a Straw Crown,' Park aims to demonstrate his versatility and prove that he can explore entirely different worlds and themes. He feels equipped to "go into worlds I know nothing about," signaling a new phase in his literary career where he seeks to challenge himself and broaden his narrative scope beyond the experiences that have defined his earlier success.

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I've mostly written about the love lives of contemporary urban dwellers or queer stories. So, many people thought that was my only strength. While I'm grateful for those descriptions, they also felt like they were boxing me in.