Jo Jung-rae Releases Likely Final Novel, 'Seori Flower,' Exploring Immortal Love

Veteran South Korean author Jo Jung-rae, celebrated for his epic historical novels like "The Taebaek Mountain Range," has unveiled his 15th full-length novel, "Seori Flower." At 83, this two-volume work is expected to be his last major novel, focusing on the theme of "immortal love" amidst a society rife with corruption and avarice.

The author's preface reveals the personal toll behind this final literary endeavor. Jo underwent major abdominal surgery, describing the experience as life-threatening. Doctors diagnosed his lifelong dedication to writing, often involving long hours at his desk, as a "professional illness" that had caused his aorta to warp and swell. Despite the severe health scare and doctors' advice to cease writing, Jo persisted, producing the novel at a pace of 15 pages per day.

"Seori Flower" tells the story of Lee Jae-yi and Yoon So-in, who fall in love and remain devoted to each other. The novel contrasts the destructive forces of unchecked capitalism and state power with the enduring human capacity for love. Jo explained at a press conference that while greed and power may crush individuals, "humans, as long as they are alive, create and seek love, and that love cannot be stopped."

This novel marks a departure for Jo, incorporating poetry and art more prominently than in his previous works, which often delved into Korea's tumultuous modern history. Having explored themes of ideology, resistance, capital, and desire for over 56 years, Jo's return to love and the "eternal present" of affection signifies a profound culmination of his literary journey. He also mentioned drawing inspiration from Van Gogh's paintings, even traveling to Europe before his surgery to research the artist.

Jo, who will celebrate his 60th wedding anniversary with poet Kim Cho-hye next year, jokingly stated the novel is entirely fiction as he has known no other woman. However, the deep connection forged over six decades lends a powerful resonance to the narrative. While he previously hinted at concluding his literary career with a novel on the soul and afterlife, "Seori Flower" brings his focus to love. He now plans to write short stories, essays, and begin calligraphy, expressing a desire for more freedom and humility in his approach to writing, though his ultimate wish remains to "die slumped over his desk while writing."