[Book Sip] Park Chamsae Interview Collection 'Anxiety Behind the Starting Line'

Some sentences encapsulate the entire content of the book itself, while others instantly reach the reader's heart, creating a connection with the book. Here, we introduce such meaningful sentences excerpted from the book. - Editor's note

This is the first book by Park Chamsae, who operates a unique curation bookstore called ‘moi,’ a ‘virtual reality bookstore,’ and hosts the podcast ‘Chamsae Chaekchaek,’ where she reviews and reads books aloud, continuously engaging in various book-related activities. It is based on a conversation released in June 2021 through the cultural and artistic curation platform ANTIEGG, available as video and transcript. Participants in the conversation include Kim Gyeoul, Lee Seunghui, Jeong Jihye, and Lee Seula, four female creators widely loved and admired by the 2030 generation living in the same era. As the title ‘Anxiety Behind the Starting Line’ suggests, the topic of the conversation is about those who have just reached the starting line of something or a turning point in life, listening to stories from those who have already run ahead.

It is a story about the natural fear felt before each new, boring, tedious, tense, creepy, and endlessly continuing start. It is also a conversation about the absence of expected composure. These are words shared about the strength that allowed four different people, including myself, to overcome the same fear and keep moving forward. Kim Gyeoul, Lee Seunghui, Jeong Jihye, and Lee Seula were willing to look back and speak, and I was the one who asked and listened. This is a book where we are evenly intertwined.

From pages 9-10, Park Chamsae, ‘The Heart of Beginning’

There’s no way not to be afraid. I worried a lot too. But I had been thinking for a long time that I needed to take a break. For almost several months. I endured until November with the thought, ‘I will definitely rest in December.’ Taking a break was desperately needed for me, and that desperation and exhaustion had surpassed fear. And I also had a bit of confidence. I thought that even if I took a break for a month or two, it wouldn’t pose a serious threat to my career. There was fear, a bit of confidence, and also a ‘Whatever, I don’t know. It’s too hard.’ feeling. I think the break was a combination of all these emotions.

From page 38, Kim Gyeoul, ‘A Life of Reading and Writing: What if I Start to Hate This?’

If I don’t show it to anyone just because I don’t like it, how can I make my own path? I need to receive feedback too. So I have to endure my own shortcomings a bit. Anyway, I believe that doing poorly is better than not doing it at all for my growth, and in fact, it was so.

From pages 44-45, Kim Gyeoul, ‘A Life of Reading and Writing: What if I Start to Hate This?’

If I admit that I’m not good enough, there might be no progress. You have to have the desire to improve, but you shouldn’t avoid sharing because of that. You just have to accept it. That this is all you can do.

Now, this is the best I can do, but I believe I will get better in the future. Wanting to do better, but accepting that this is the best for now. If you have these two feelings, wouldn’t you be a bit more generous?

From pages 64-65, Kim Gyeoul, ‘The Creator: On Creating Across Words’

Anxiety Behind the Starting Line | Written by Park Chamsae | Semicolon | 252 pages | 15,500 KRW

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.