Japanese Foreign Minister Buys Book 'Kim Ji-young, Born 1982' in Korea... "An Opportunity to Understand Korean Culture"

Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko announced on the 28th that she purchased the novel "Kim Ji-young, Born 1982" during her visit to Busan on the 25th-26th to attend the Korea-China-Japan Foreign Ministers' Meeting.

At a press conference that afternoon, Foreign Minister Kamikawa stated in her opening remarks that she bought the book in Busan, introducing it as "a million-seller depicting the changes, confusion, and discrimination in Korean society surrounding a woman born in the early 1980s, a period of great upheaval in Korean society."

Written by author Jo Nam-joo, "Kim Ji-young, Born 1982" was published domestically in 2016 and translated into Japanese in 2018. The work centers on Kim Ji-young, a full-time housewife whose career was interrupted by childbirth and childcare, exposing everyday discrimination and structural inequality.

Foreign Minister Kamikawa said, "Since taking office, I have visited local bookstores in six countries and purchased books on culture and history," adding, "Knowing which books are read provides an opportunity to understand the culture and values of that country." She further noted, "Deepening understanding through bookstore visits and books also helps diplomatic activities."

Additionally, Foreign Minister Kamikawa mentioned that Korea, China, and Japan share Chinese character (Hanja) culture, stating, "Understanding that the same Chinese characters can have different meanings offers an opportunity to engage with the underlying culture and history."

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