In this thoughtful piece of analysis, columnist Injae Lee builds on the first instalment of this two-part article to further delve into the themes of guilt and responsibility central to ‘At Least We Can Apologize’, and in doing so, reflects on their place within the heart of Korean society.

In the first instalment of this two-part reflection on Lee Ki-Ho’s novel ‘At Least We Can Apologise’, columnist Injae Lee muses over the intricacies of translation and examines the work’s satirical critique of contemporary Korean society, invoking the concept of a ‘Hell Joson.’

In his first column, Injae Lee lays out his thoughts upon reading Pachinko, the novel by Korean-American author Min Jin Lee. He relates the novel to his own studies in Orientalism at university and the way Orientalism continues to influence perceptions of Korean culture, exposing a darker side to the Hallyu that is exposing the world to Korean culture—and Korean culture to the world.