Love is a River

More than 300,000 copies sold 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.

On behalf of Minumsa Publishing (Korea).