Exploring 'humanity' and societal indifference at a unique book event

A distinctive book event, themed as a "ghost story gathering," marked the release of Seong Hae-na's debut collection of ghost stories, "Inbiin." Held in a dimly lit venue in Seoul, attendees donned masks and were given LED candles, creating an atmospheric start. The event opened with the host questioning the humanity of those present, setting a tone that explored the book's central theme: the ambiguity of "Inbiin" (人非人), a term that can refer to both humans and non-human entities.

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What is most frightening is not the existence that cannot be explained, but the person who does not explain.

Seong explained that "Inbiin" probes the question of "what it means to be human" and how the term is often used to easily dismiss those who deviate from perceived norms. The title itself highlights the fragile boundary between the human and the non-human. The gathering also featured the sharing of five ghost stories submitted by readers, each connected to the tales within the collection. These stories, ranging from unexplained voices in dormitories to the "Charlie Charlie" game, led to discussions about the fear of the unexplained versus the fear of those who refuse to explain.

The conversation naturally shifted to the titular story, "Inbiin," which is based on the horrific biological experiments conducted by Unit 731 during the Japanese occupation. The author drew a parallel between a character's dismissal of such atrocities in the novel and contemporary society's indifference to issues like collaboration with the Japanese regime. The choice of July 31st for the book event was a deliberate act by the publisher to remember these historical atrocities.

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In this day and age, who pays attention to issues like biological experiments?

As the event progressed, the discussion broadened to encompass what defines humanity in the age of artificial intelligence. Seong Hae-na identified "shame" as a distinctly human characteristic, contrasting it with AI's ability to apologize instantly for errors. She also shared her inspiration for writing, stemming from watching "TV Literature" with her illiterate grandmother, which fueled a desire to create accessible literature. The author expressed a wish to have been a writer like Yun Dong-ju if she had lived during the Japanese colonial period. The event concluded with a sense of pride in having such a courageous writer who thoughtfully examines humanity.

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AI can apologize instantly even if it makes a mistake or does something wrong, but humans know how to feel shame.