Gu Byeong-mo


Gu Byeong-mo is a South Korean writer. She made her literary debut in 2009 when her novel Wizard Bakery won the 2nd Changbi Prize for Young Adult Fiction. Her 2015 short story collection Geugeosi namaneun anigireul received the Today's Writer Award and Hwang Sun-won New Writers' Award. She penned the novels Pigeumallion aideul, Agami, and Bangjuro oseyo as well as the short story collection Gouineun anijiman. Gu's debut novel Wijeodeu Beikeori was translated into Spanish by Minjeong Jeong and Irma Zyanja Gil Yáñez. They received the 24th Daesan Literary Award in 2016 for their translation.

Life

Gu Byeong-mo was born in Seoul, South Korea in 1976. Gu studied Korean literature at Kyung Hee University.

Writing

Many of Gu Byeong-mo's works are genre fiction. Her debut novel Wijeodeu beikeori mixes mystery, horror, and fantasy. It is the first young adult novel in South Korea to employ magic as a major plot device, breaking the convention of the genre to deal with only realistic settings. The judges of the Changbi Prize for Young Adult Fiction chose Wijeodeu as the winner because it is a fantastical allegory that deviates from the standard coming-of-age story set in schools.
Gu's later works are also allegories that use unusual motifs to reveal a dark side of reality. “Hwagapsonyeojeon” is a short story based on “The Little Match Girl” by Hans Christian Andersen. But instead of seeing wonderful visions in the glow of her matches, the protagonist only sees scenes of horror and tragedy. The story urges readers to question commonly accepted truths or lessons and to view the world in a new light.

Works

  • Apartment Women
  • 엄마의 완성
  • 《단지 소설일 뿐이네》 2024.01
  • 《있을 법한 모든 것》 2023.07
  • 《파쇄 》 2023.03
  • 《로렘 입숨의 책》 2023.12
  • 《상아의 문으로》 2021.11
  • 《바늘과 가죽의 시》 2021.05
  • 『두 번째 엔딩』 중 「초원조의 아이에게」
  • 《심장에 수놓은 이야기 》 2020.03
  • 《버드 스트라이크 》 2019.03
  • 《단 하나의 문장 》 2018.11
  • 《네 이웃의 식탁 》 2018.06
  • 《어느 피씨주의자의 종생기 》 2017.10
  • 《한 스푼의 시간 》 2016.09
  • 《빨간구두당 》 2015.09
  • 《파과 》 2013.08
  • 《피그말리온 아이들 》 2012.06
  • 《방주로 오세요 》 2012.01
  • 《고의는 아니지만 》 2011.08
  • 《아가미 》 2011.03
  • 《위저드 베이커리 ''》 2009.03

    co-authorship

  • 《땀 흘리는 소설》 2019.03
  • 《무민은 채식주의자》 2018.11
  • 《불안의 주파수 》 2018.09
  • 《파란 아이 》 2018.09
  • 《근방에 히어로가 너무 많사오니 》 2018.09
  • 《소설 제주》 2018.07
  • 《꿈을 꾸었다고 말했다 》 2018.01
  • 《현남 오빠에게 》 2017.11
  • 《제7회 문지문학상 수상작품집 》 2017.06
  • 《소년, 소녀를 만나다 》 2016.05
  • 《그것이 나만은 아니기를 》 May It Not Be Just Me'' 2015.03
  • 《겨울의 눈빛 》 2014.05
  • 《한.중 걸작단편선》 2014.04
  • 《쓰다 참, 사랑 》 2013.07
  • 《행복한 문학편지 》 2013.06
  • 《작가가 선정한 오늘의 소설 》 2011.03
  • 《오늘의 장르 문학》 2010.11

    Works in Translation (partial)

Source:
In 2025, her novel The Old Woman with the Knife was adapted into a feature film The [Old Woman with the Knife] directed by Min Kyu-dong. The film will premiere at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival in February 2025 as part of Berlinale Special programme.

Awards

  • 2016: Daesan Literary Award, translation category
  • 2015: Today's Writer Award
  • 2015: Hwang Sun-won New Writers' Award
  • 2009: Changbi Prize for Young Adult Fiction
  • 2022: Kim You jeong Academic Award