Written by Korean author Park Sang Young, Love in the Big City chronicles the flawed and dramatic life of Young as he goes through the ups and downs of searching for love. His lifestyle is one of chasing rainbows as he moves from one disappointment to another. Broken down into four parts, the novel recounts all the relationships Young has had from when he was a university student up to the present time. His story is much like a roller coaster ride; sometimes, he hits rock bottom before eventually returning back to where he started.

The coming-of-age novel begins with the outlandish story of Young being caught red-handed kissing another high school boy by his mother. As a punishment, he is sent to a psychiatric center in order to “straighten” him. Later in life, Young makes many friends and builds unconventional relationships in hope of finding true love in a city full of complexities. Park narrates the different types of emotions that Young experiences as he clings to relationships that threaten to slip away the more that he tries to hang on to them. Above all, the book portrays the complications that the young generation face: as they struggle to find their identity, role, and meaning in life, they are also searching for love – mostly in the wrong places.

Telling One Story Through Multiple Perspectives

The author employs focalization, which is the selection of narrative information in relation to the experience of the narrator. The author effectively uses a unique method of storytelling that takes on two different forms: a narrator or focalizer (in this case, Young) and internal focalization, where storytelling is limited to only what the narrator knows about. Readers learn about each individual in Young’s life through his eyes for most of the time; however, in other instances, the plot is propelled forward through the point of view of Young’s best friend, his mother, and other characters that form special relationships with Young.

For instance, Young gives a dreamy description of his gay partner Gyu-ho as he stands in his kitchen. Here, Young describes every detail in the kitchen like the position of the soy sauce and spices and even the stubborn dust on the foldable table that reminds him of his own life. He also notes how Gyu-ho busily moves about, making certain that breakfast is prepared properly. Although Young is unaware at this point that Gyu-ho is considering moving in with him, Young still fantasizes about spending time with him. Hence, this focalization serves to reveal Young’s homosexuality as evidenced by his expressions, actions and behavior towards Gyu-ho as he fancies himself getting in a serious relationship with him.

Focalization is most optimally utilized in the scenes where Young interacts with Jaehee, his female best friend and former roommate who eventually leaves him as she decides to settle down. During their time together as roomies, they would frequent close-by bars, share laughter, tears and escapades with men while pushing away their concerns over their own lives, families, and finances. Young shares intimacy with Jaehee in that he can easily disclose even his vulnerabilities to her. Once Jaehee leaves him, Young reluctantly takes care of his mother who has been diagnosed with uterine cancer; with his hesitation coming from the years of pent-up resentment towards his unaccepting mother.

Thank You for All the Laughter and Tears

Young’s objective analysis of himself suggests that Park has written Love in the Big City with a specific audience in mind. Young’s failed past relationships and his apathetic acceptance of being responsible for his mother, as well as his eventual success in both his love life and career as an author, are what create the Young that the audience sees at the end of this book. By not shying away from these uncomfortable facts in life, Park draws the attention of millennials and homosexuals who may see themselves in the same situation as Young. The story of Young is a safe haven for these people, who constantly feel like treading on thin ice while living in the conservative and complex South Korean society.

In addition, the different settings of the story represent the various emotions experiences by the characters. Seasonal changes not only indicate how the weather fluctuates between hot and cold but also portray the dramatic emotions that the characters experience. For instance, when Young is told that homosexuals are a “disease” or a “social ill,” the cold winter breeze matches his utter heartbreak. On the other hand, Young finds true happiness during the summer when he meets his courteous boyfriend.

The unconventional lifestyle of Young and Jaehee also mirrors how certain members of the younger generation view themselves and the society they live in. Constantly moving from one relationship to the next, the two characters experience an emotional rollercoaster that ranges from pain and tears to laughter and bliss.

Written as a fictional novel, Love in the Big City portrays how a homosexual man living in modern-day Seoul pursues romantic relationships: no matter how tormented he is, Young keeps chasing rainbows, regardless of how impossible or unreachable they may seem. In the bigger picture, Young represents the younger generation that never stops trying until they find their true love.

Book Information

Title: Love in the Big City

Author: Park Sang Young

Publisher: Changbi

Publication Year: 2019

Pages: 344