Son Won-pyeong's 'Seoreun-ui Ban-gyeok' Wins Japan Booksellers Award

[Asia Economy Reporter Seomideum] Son Won-pyeong’s novel Counterattack at Thirty ranked first in the translated novel category at the 19th “2022 Japan Booksellers Award.” The Japan Booksellers Award was established in 2004 by bookstore clerks. Winners are selected through direct votes by bookstore clerks selling new books, including those at online bookstores, and the award is divided into four categories: the main Booksellers Award, Discovery Award, Translated Novel Award, and Non-fiction Award. Over the years, many award-winning works such as The Devotion of Suspect X, Tokyo Tower, and Honeybee and Thunder have been selected, and since 2012, the Translated Novel category has been separately designated. The first Asian novel to win in the Translated Novel category, rather than a British-American or European novel, was Almond in 2020. This time, another new record has been set: the same author has won this award twice. Counterattack at Thirty (published by Eunhaengnamu Co., Ltd.) won the 5th Jeju 4·3 Peace Literature Award and was published domestically in 2017.

Counterattack at Thirty was published in August 2021 by Japan’s Shodensha, which has released works by leading Japanese authors such as Keigo Higashino and Riku Onda, with translation by Akiko Yajima (矢島?紀子), following Almond. The novel centers on a protagonist born in 1988 who turned thirty in 2017, portraying a special “counterattack” by those enduring the present amid contradictions of authority, hypocrisy, injustice, and exploitation. Besides Japan, Counterattack at Thirty has been translated and published in China and Taiwan, and a major publisher in Thailand has confirmed its publication.

Lee Guyong, CEO of KL Management, the agency handling the Japanese rights deal for this book, said, “With Almond winning this award in 2020, Son Won-pyeong’s literary world has been firmly established not only in Japan but among readers worldwide. Through Counterattack at Thirty, she has built another literary world. The unprecedented honor of winning this award twice within a short span proves that Son Won-pyeong’s literature continues to engage readers vividly. This work will be remembered once again as a major contribution to expanding the horizons of Korean literature.”

The Japan Booksellers Award ceremony was broadcast live online on April 6, 2022, starting at 3 p.m.

Author Son Won-pyeong said, “When I was writing Counterattack at Thirty, I felt very frustrated and helpless. I thought I had been persistently striving and running hard toward my dreams, but despite the long time and effort, I had not gained even a ray of light.” He added, “I believe that even now, not only in Korea but also in Japan and worldwide, many young people are struggling with feelings similar to mine at that time. I hope my book can offer even a little comfort to those people.”

Full acceptance speech below

I am surprised and delighted to receive the Booksellers Award for the second time. I am so grateful that I can hardly find words for my acceptance speech. While I feel honored, I also feel a sense of regret. When Almond won the Booksellers Award two years ago, it was shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic began. However, even now, two years later, the global COVID situation continues, and I regret that I must watch my award from afar.

While Almond dealt with emotions, Counterattack at Thirty began with the question, “What kind of adult will I become?” When I was writing Counterattack at Thirty, I felt very frustrated and helpless. I thought I had been persistently striving and running hard toward my dreams, but despite the long time and effort, I had not gained even a ray of light. I felt myself shrinking, and the work I was doing felt meaningless and worthless, and at times I felt wronged. Nevertheless, I had no choice but to continue that work?making films and writing. It was all I knew how to do, and the only way to dispel the overwhelming despair was to keep going. At that time, I resolved that if someday I looked back on this period, I would face the world humbly and modestly as a mature adult without forgetting this moment.

I believe that even now, not only in Korea but also in Japan and worldwide, many young people are struggling with feelings similar to mine at that time. I hope my book can offer even a little comfort to those people.

Counterattack at Thirty is a work that won the Jeju 4·3 Peace Literature Award in Korea. Whether two years ago or now, COVID-19 remains with us, but while the pandemic was rampant then, the COVID era is gradually coming to an end. Even within the same phenomenon, there is always difference and hope. I will continue to strive to approach readers as a writer who illuminates the various aspects of life and the precious values around us.