VOL.93/2026.04

 

Writer Cho Young-Joo

A writer with a powerful imagination who has no limits

 

2025.08.04

 

No reader can fail to love an author who has such a powerful imagination and tireless productivity. And, if that author’s works are about characters who find peace and redemption through sheer force of will, and if the stories are breathtakingly exciting, the love for the author deepens. This is the case with Cho Young-Joo, who started out writing genre fiction before expanding into young adult fiction. Although her stories take on the appearance of thrillers, Cho has been writing heartwarming narratives about characters who are ultimately redeemed and healed. Here is a look into the whole new world she has created.

 

 

It’s an honor to have you with us on K-Book Trends. Please say hello to our readers and introduce yourself briefly.

 

Hello, everyone. I’m novelist Cho Young-Joo. I started my career as a writer with the mystery novel The Letter From Holmes (Noble Mine); now I also write novels and essays for young adults. It’s a pleasure to meet you.

 

The Letter From Holmes is set against the backdrop of the March 1st Movement, and it garnered significant attention for its clever use of both fictional and real-life figures, such as Sherlock Holmes, Kim Nae-Sung, who can be considered the first detective novelist of Korea, and Edogawa Ranpo, a towering figure in Japanese detective fiction. Can you tell us a bit about how and when you conceptualized the story?

 

Before I made my debut as a writer, I once attended a gathering of writers called the “Korean Mystery Writers’ Society,” which is inactive today. One of the writers told me, “There was a novelist named Kim Nae-Sung, who wrote stories during the Japanese occupation of Korea. While Japan holds events to celebrate the 100th anniversary of their novelists’ births, we didn’t even know that there was such a novelist in Korea.” The writer also said that it is crazy that we, mystery writers, don’t know about him. Because it was the time when the BBC drama “Sherlock” was airing, I asked them, “How would it be if I wrote a novel about Sherlock coming to Korea and meeting writer Kim?” They said it would be fine. So, without studying anything, I just started writing the novel on my own. The interesting thing is that I had the experience of seeing the characters come to life through that process.

 

 

Since when did you start reading mystery novels? Also, as you might have read many works by other authors, could you introduce us to some of the authors and works that you like in particular?

 

It was only since 2007. Before that, I didn’t even know how to borrow books from the library. The manager of the cafe where I worked part-time showed me how to borrow books from Namsan Library. At that time, the “Book of the Month” selected by the library was, The Reason by Miyuki Miyabe. I borrowed the book and read it, but it was so boring that I was only 100 pages into it when the return date was approaching. However, once I got past those 100 pages, the story started to get really startling - I ended up staying up all night to finish it. After I finished the book, I held it up and said, “If this is what a mystery novel is, then I’m going to be the writer of mystery novels.”
One of my favorite Korean novelists is Kim Ho-Yeon. I had a chance to meet her at an event, and she signed a copy of her book. It was Fauster (Wisdom House), which I read with great pleasure and became an instant fan. She then sent me another copy of her book, The Uncanny Convenience Store (Namu Bench). I cried so much after reading that book and seeing how popular it became. If you got to know Kim Ho-Yeon with The Uncanny Convenience Store, you should definitely read Fauster - it will blow your mind.

 

* K-Book Trends Vol. 44 ? Go to the interview with writer Kim Ho-Yeon

 

 

We think detective fiction is like an intellectual game with the reader, who has made up their mind, saying, “I won’t be deceived.” So, I imagine that for each work, your determination to deceive the reader must be unique. Could you share a bit about the preparation you do to structure the story and its tricks?

 

You have to be struck by some kind of lightning. You can tell the difference between a book written after being struck by a lightning bolt and one that isn’t. A book written after the lightning strike is read in one sitting, and readers can’t even anticipate the plot twists. However, a book written without the lightning strike is often reacted to by the publisher first. I once had to write a whole new story because my publisher didn’t like it. It was fine at first, but as soon as I got off the phone with them, I started to get really angry and wrote a new 900-page novel in ten days. And, they gave it the green light. It’s a secret which book it was. For me, I have to be struck by lightning and really get into the story, as if I’m a character in it, to make a good piece. I tend to wait until I’m in that state of mind, as if I were being possessed by a spirit.

 

 

I held up the book I had finished reading, and then, like a scene from a cartoon, I resolved,
‘If this is what a mystery novel is, I’m going to be a mystery novelist.’

 

 

Every mystery writer creates a detective or investigator who can be called their persona. Can you tell us about Detective Kim Na-Young in the world of your Detective Kim Series, which spans Red Sofa (Hainaim Publishing Co., Ltd.), There Is No Twist (Yeondam L), and Hatred Suicide (CABINET)?

 

The character “Kim Na-Young” first appears in Red Sofa. She’s a survivor of a homicide and also suffers from hyperthymic syndrome and insomnia. She becomes a detective and tries to find out who made her like this. She then undergoes a period of healing through There Is No Twist and Hatred Suicide. When I was writing Red Sofa, I didn’t think about the future role of detective Kim Na-Young ? she just naturally kept showing up as I wrote. For Hatred Suicide, I was stuck for two years after starting the story, but her appearance brought it to an end. Additionally, for There Is No Twist, her presence helped unravel many of the plot holes. It was a goosebump experience for me, too, because all the stories came together with the involvement of Kim Na-Young. Oh, yes, Kim Na-Young is the lightning - Kim Na-Young herself became the lightning.

 

 

You have been meeting readers with young adult fiction since 2020. Among them, Glass Mask (Saenggak Hakgyo), a full-length novel with the same title as Miuchi Suzue’s comics, is also known as your autobiographical story. What was the story you wanted to convey to young adult readers through this book?

 

I wrote a paragraph about the comic “Glass Mask” in my essay, It’s Good to Have Too Many Things You Like (Lik-it). Reading that, my publisher asked me to “write a story about a vivacious kid who joyously overcomes bullying.” I was actually bullied by the entire school when I was in middle school. I cried a lot while writing the book because it was based on that experience, but it was therapeutic, too, at the same time. I used to break down in tears just talking about bullying.
Middle school students once asked me about how to stop bullying. At the time, I said, “I don’t know,” but the question stuck with me for a long time. And so, I decided to write a book that might be the answer. My Friend is a Narcissist (Saenggak Hakgyo) is a story about a friendship between a narcissist and a bullied girl at school. It ultimately comes down to communication, but no one knows if that will be enough to stop bullying. But, I think I will continue to talk about bullying for young adults.

 

 

The spaces you spend your time in also seem to be a source of inspiration. Can you tell us about any of your work that has been influenced by the environment or region where you are currently living?

 

I came to write the Time Trilogy of Cronotopia (Yoda), The Silver Moon Caf? (Matisse Blue), and The Unburied (Bizn Books) by chance, all of which are set in Namyangju and Pyeongtaek, the places where I lived and still reside. The Silver Moon Caf? was inspired by the unmarked graveyard that my dog discovered while we were walking together before it passed away. The story begins with a woman who is so depressed that she can’t even remember her own name; she attempts to commit suicide next to the unmarked graveyard, until she meets an old woman who bakes bread at the Silver Moon Caf? and gets some bread from her. Then, her time stops, and she becomes unable to die. The old woman’s wish to stop her from dying was put into the bread. Meanwhile, The Unburied takes place in “sam-ri,” a red-light district near Pyeongtaek Station. It is the story of a daughter who is asked by her mother with dementia to “finish the novel I was writing before” and searches for the truth when she discovers that a murder has occurred in the same story she wrote.

 

 

The Silver Moon Caf? and The Unburied were also introduced to readers at the 2025 Seoul International Book Fair (SIBF) in June. You personally joined the book fair and held a signing event as well. What was it like meeting readers there, and do you have any memorable stories to share?

 

At the book fair, I was out and about, pitching The Unburied and describing the story of the book. Then some people would actually come and buy the book, asking me to ring it up. When the staff from the publishing house would tell them, “She is the author of this book,” they would be surprised and ask for an autograph. It was very fascinating. I was also surprised to find readers looking for me at the fair. I heard that people were looking for me whenever I was away. I even had actor Park Jung-Min, who is also the head of the publishing company MUZE, come and buy the book when I was away. I was able to sell out the book thanks to the interest of many people. Of course, I have met many readers at book talks, but they were already familiar with me beforehand. However, at events like a book fair, people who don’t know me at all come and buy my book - it made me feel very emotional. It also strengthened the awareness that “I am a writer.”

 

You are writing in many genres and fields, beyond mysteries. Where do you get the energy to be so prolific?

 

Money. When I get paid. (Laughs) When the deadline approaches, lightning strikes me. I put in a lot of effort to try to meet the lightning head-on. I write with the resolve to take a cold shower. In fact, there’s a deadline I’ve already postponed, and soon I’ll have to face the lightning and write while shedding tears of regret.

 

 

You are also known as a “successful deokhu (덕후; meaning ‘a mania-like person with obsessive interests’).” What is your longest-running area of enthusiasm, and who is your current “favorite character”?

 

I think I’m a deokhu who got successful by being a fan of Jeong Yu-Jeong. I attended a book talk celebrating the release of Jeong’s 28 (EunHaengNaMu Publishing), where I heard the invited band perform Paek Seok’s poem, There is a White Wind Wall. Because it was a poem that I loved a lot since I was in my 20s, and I thought I wanted to write a novel about it one day, I got goosebumps all over my body when I heard the song made from it. And then, Jeong Yu-Jeong came out and started talking, and it all sounded like my story, because we had so much in common. I didn’t know her before then, and I hadn’t read any of her books. But, I got to think that she was really amazing as I listened to her talk.
After the event, I asked the publisher who accompanied me there, “What do I need to do to be like Jeong Yu-Jeong?” and the answer was, “You need to win an international literary award.” So, I worked really hard for it - even though I didn’t really think I would win one at the time. Later, when I finally won an award, Jeong was so happy for me, giving me a meaningful gift, saying, “My deokhu won the prize!” before joining us for the celebration party. I am still a deokhu of her to this day because she is such an admirable and wonderful person.
I have been a longtime fan of writer Jeong Hae-Yeon, too. I have known her since before her debut, and I have always cheered her on as a “writer who will definitely succeed.” I am very happy that she is becoming famous as I hoped.

 

We know that you have a lot of readers who are big fans of your works. As a “deokhu” and a “deokhu maker,” what do you think are the elements of a compelling narrative or character?

 

It’s important that the characters are alive. When the characters are alive, there is nothing for me to do - their movements become reality. That’s why I feel like the whole scene is unfolding in front of me when the characters are alive.

 

 

I cried a lot while writing the book because it was based on my experiences.
But, I was healed at the same time as I wrote it.

 

 

Are you currently working on new titles?

 

I would first pick The Phantom Spirits of the Forbidden Palace (KONG), which was the first illustrated novel in my writing life and was showcased at the 2025 SIBF. I’m also working on a young adult detective novel, The Girl Who Stops Before (Detective Socrates Series 1). I have Asperger’s Syndrome. It’s not severe, but it makes me repeat peculiar behaviors and speech patterns, and sometimes I don’t understand what people are saying. It causes a bit of trouble when I’m building social relationships. I was bullied in middle school for this, too. So, I started writing this book, imagining what it would be like to have a detective with the syndrome.
I also have a young adult novel coming out in July titled, You Always Shine (K-monster Gildal Series 1), which tells the story of what it’s like after your pet passes away. I also have a condition called prosopagnosia, where I struggle to recognize people’s faces - sometimes I don’t even recognize my own face. I’m working on an essay about an interview I had with the head of a publishing house who wanted to learn about it.

 

 

Last but not least, do you have any personal goals or wishes aside from literature and books?

 

I have one. I would love to become an international author with a billion won publishing contract, just like writer Kang Min-Young of Plants, Shops (Hanibook). (Laughs)

 

 

 

 

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