“An anomaly regarding novels of recent years” —Literary critic Kim Mi-jung
“An overwhelming sense of light rhythm and speed” — novelist Ahn Bo-yoon
“A work that is dazzling yet agile, absurd and bland, yet at the same time weighty. In that sense, it delightfully deviates from the norm, yet it is also classic.” —novelist Eun Hee-kyung
“If you endure unfamiliarity just a little, you’ll soon be captivated by the novel’s unique rhythm. Based on the idea that even invisible experiences like revenge can be sold, the story sharply satirizes commercial capitalism…. What is important is Cheon-gu’s transformation. He had never once left his neighborhood and family, and even at his first job, he was practically dragged in by his mother. The climax, in which the seemingly powerless man literally swallows all his shackles to reach a blank slate and prepares a stepping stone to move to the next stage, is chilling—unlike before—and therefore shocking. The author’s steadfastness in using extravagant humor to point out societal problems while realizing the protagonist’s self-discovery is impressive.” — Cine21
Winner of the 2023 Munhakdongne Literary Prize in Fiction
As Cheon-gu tries to make sense of the job, he’s pulled into increasingly surreal transactions, strange customers, and power struggles that hint at something much larger going on behind the scenes. As the story unfolds, the supermarket becomes less a workplace and more a distorted mirror of the world outside—where politics, desire, belief, and identity are all up for sale.