I Smile to Strangers

Reading a physical book is completely different from browsing on my laptop.

When you think about it, we can’t be sure about anything.

Now I can finally pay $60,000 a year to study the things I can learn on the Internet for free.

“Do you have any plans for next year?” When the new year approaches, people suddenly get busy and start asking each other this same soulless question. This December was no different. As soon as our calendars hit the final month, every platform was posting its “Top Albums of the Year.” The year was already over for so many of us. Today was just a...

Because I live in Jeju, which draws millions of tourists year-round, I often find myself flipping through guestbooks at coffee shops, bars, and even theaters. Many of the entries reveal why people choose to travel to Jeju alone. They’re surprisingly candid about their struggles with partners, parents, and colleagues. A few weeks ago, I read that...