Torrents

On behalf of Minumsa in Korea

A powerful story of young love surviving over decades and tragedies. A surprise word-of-mouth sensation that leapt onto bestseller lists and into readers hearts long after its initial publication.

In the quiet river town of Jinpyeong, seventeen-year-old Do-dam lives with her father, chief firefighter Chang-seok, and her mother, Jeong-mi. When her mother is hospitalized for the summer after a bout of pneumonia, Do-dam’s father takes her swimming to the river, to lift their spirits.

Do-dam is soon captivated by a new and unfamiliar face in the river; Hae-sol, who’s just moved from Seoul with his mother. One day, when the current is stronger than expected, Do-dam jumps in to save a drowning Hae-sol. Their unusual first encounter develops into an intimate relationship, and their first love begins to blossom in this dull, unchanging piece of countryside.

But Do-dam’s world is turned upside down upon discovery of an affair between her father and Hae-sol’s mother, who have been seeing each other in secret. Furious, but wanting to see for herself to clear up any doubt, Do-dam follows them to their secret swimming spot in the middle of the night, taking Hae-sol with her. There, a tragic accident happens, which will change their lives forever.

Devastated, Do-dam attempts to find solace by retreating into her studies, and Hae-sol moves out of Jinpyeong. Over the course of a decade, the pair continuously distance and reunite, as they struggle with grief, guilt, and reconciling with the terrible mistake they made when they were just seventeen.