Cho Jeong-rae Returns with First Love Story Novel, 'Frost Flower', Possibly His Last Long Work

Cho Jeong-rae, the acclaimed 83-year-old author behind historical epics like "The Taebaek Mountain Range" and "Arirang," has released his first novel centered on a love story, titled "Frost Flower." Published on March 24, the novel marks a departure from his previous works, which often tackled historical and social issues.

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I could write with a comfortable heart because the love I spoke of in the novels 'The Taebaek Mountain Range,' 'Arirang,' and 'Han River' was already in my heart.

During a press conference in Seoul, Cho explained his decision to focus on love. "My time to write novels is decreasing," he said. "As I approach the end of my life, I felt it would be meaningful to write the love story that readers have always wanted."

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My time to write novels is decreasing. As I approach the end of my life, I felt it would be meaningful to write the love story that readers have always wanted.

"Frost Flower" tells the story of a philosophy student who loved poetry and an art student. They meet, separate, and eventually find their way back to each other to complete their love. However, Cho emphasized that the novel is not a simple love story. "It is a story about how capital, colluding with state and social power, destroys and ruins healthy citizens," he stated, adding that this theme has been a recurring element in his past works.

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It is a story about how capital, colluding with state and social power, destroys and ruins healthy citizens.