'I hope that after people read 'Yeonnam-dong’s Smiley Laundromat', they will have a window in their hearts through which a comforting breeze can blow through,' says Kim Jiyun, who was in Kuala Lumpur recently for a book tour. Photo: The Star/Faihan Ghani
In a modern world filled with digital screens and surface-level connections, it’s easy to feel like you’re all alone in your troubles.
But in South Korean author Kim Jiyun’s debut novel Yeonnam-dong’s Smiley Laundromat, we get the refreshing reminder of the importance of showing compassion and empathy to others, as you never know what difficulties they may be going through.
The titular laundromat, situated at the heart of the rapidly gentrifying neighbourhood of Yeonnam-dong in Seoul, is a place where residents find peace and respite from their daily worries.
In a recent interview in Kuala Lumpur, Kim shares that she got the idea for the story one night while walking down the streets of Hongdae, a neighbourhood in Seoul known for its youthful ambience and buzzing nightlife.
“It was during that transition period between winter and spring, a time when I tend to feel more sentimental. So as I was walking around the neighbourhood, I happened to come across this nice smell.
“I followed it and it brought me to this laundromat. I decided right then that I wanted to write a novel about the nice smell and warm atmosphere there, which ended up becoming this book,” she says.
Truth in anonymity
Yeonnam-dong’s Smiley Laundromat contains five stories featuring a varied cast of characters, from an old grandfather and his sweet-natured dog to an aspiring musician busking on the streets to a small family struggling to make ends meet.
What ties all the stories together is an olive green diary – when it turns up in the laundromat, its original owner unknown, the residents begin to anonymously pour their thoughts and emotions into it, inspiring others to leave behind messages of comfort and advice.
Kim Jiyun (left) and Singaporean translator Shanna Tan discuss the English translation of the book during a recent bookshop event in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: The Star/Faihan Ghani
Through serendipity and acts of kindness, the laundromat’s regulars become a sort of found family, and when the opportunity comes to solve the mystery of the olive green diary, they team up to help its former owner find peace.
“I came up with the idea of the residents anonymously leaving messages in the diary because I’ve realised that it’s difficult to be open about your feelings and worries.
“Because I wanted the characters to have a place where they could truly express themselves and their concerns, I figured that they would be able to write more honestly if they could do it anonymously,” says Kim.
She admits that while coming up with the characters for the book wasn’t difficult, as they are “ordinary people with ordinary concerns”, she did struggle with the responses to the cries for help written down in the diary.
“Just because their worries are ordinary doesn't mean the response to them should be something generic. That's why I put a lot of care and thought into the messages written in the diary, as well as the replies to them,” she adds.
Highs and lows of gentrification
For Kim, it was natural to set the novel in Yeonnam-dong, having grown up in neighbouring Hongdae.
“I wanted to create a contrast between the new and the old – that’s why I chose this neighbourhood, because Yeonnam-dong started out as a quiet neighbourhood, but over time, both it and Hongdae became popular tourist attractions.
“It’s wonderful to see more visitors appreciating the area, but it’s bittersweet,” says Kim, who still works out of her studio in Hongdae. “Houses are being torn down and rebuilt as shops, cafes, and restaurants, while many former residents have moved away because the rent has become too expensive.” The theme of “old versus new” runs through the book’s characters, especially in the ongoing tension between Old Jang, who cherishes the life and memories he’s built in Yeonnam-dong, and his son Daeju, a middle-aged plastic surgeon with ambitious aspirations who believes his father should sell their ageing family home.
Kim's best-selling novel, 'Yeonnam-dong's Smiley Laundromat', has struck a chord with Malaysian readers, resonating deeply with its heartfelt storytelling and richly drawn characters. Photo: The Star/Faihan Ghani
“There are times when adults don't understand young people well, and young people don't understand adults well. But I think that ultimately, the values we have are the same, and the things we want to say and the messages we want to receive in life are the same.
“So I wanted to talk about this through the character of Old Jang and his relationships with the other characters,” says Kim.
A universal language
In South Korea, Yeonnam-dong’s Smiley Laundromat has become a bestseller, even inspiring a critically acclaimed musical currently on stage. However, when it came to the book’s English-language translation by Singaporean translator Shanna Tan, Kim wasn’t sure what to anticipate.
“I’d heard of English-language translations of Korean bestselling books doing well in English-speaking countries, but because this is my first book, I wondered if it would do that well,” shares Kim.
After recently visiting Singapore and Malaysia for her book tour and witnessing her work climb international bestseller rankings, Kim describes the experience as “unreal.” She shares her amazement at the reception, revealing that the English translation of her book has already been contracted for publication in 17 countries, a milestone she hadn’t imagined when she first began writing.
For Kim, setting the novel in Yeonnam-dong felt natural, a choice rooted in her upbringing in neighbouring Hongdae, offering readers a glimpse into the world that shaped her. Photo: The Star/Faihan Ghani
“I thought I wrote about a very universal sentiment in Korea, but when I see people in other countries being able to resonate with it, it makes me think that we’re all truly connected as one. Even though we live far away and are different people, there are some things that we all share,” she says with a grateful smile.In June, Kim unveiled her second novel, See You Again, a heartwarming story centred around a humble "dosirak" (meal box) eatery in the bustling neighbourhood of Hyehwa-dong.
The novel, which continues her exploration of community and human connection, is set to be translated into English and published in Britain, marking another step in her growing international reach.
Looking ahead, Kim reveals that her third novel will take a creative leap into the realm of fantasy, describing it as a story with a whimsical, "Disney-like feel," signaling an exciting new chapter in her literary journey.If you’re hoping for more stories from Yeonnam-dong’s Smiley Laundromat, Kim hints that she’s been contemplating a follow-up book, which may finally reveal the laundromat’s mysterious owner and touch on their story.
“I hope that after people read Yeonnam-dong’s Smiley Laundromat, they will have a window in their hearts through which a comforting breeze can blow through,” concludes Kim.
Kim Jiyun's Yeonnam-dong’s Smiley Laundromat is available in all good bookstores.
