To the Moon
by Jang Ryujin
Translated by Sean Lin Halbert
What It’s About
To the Moon follows a group of young professionals who are tired of being stuck, stuck in their jobs, their hierarchies, and the small boxes other people keep putting them in. It’s the kind of Korean literary fiction I’ve come to love: ordinary lives under extraordinary pressure, written with clarity, humor, and just enough chaos to feel real.
It’s a slice-of-life story set in a corporate world that’s both specific and universal. Promotions, favoritism, burnout, and quiet rebellion. When the main characters decide to take a wild leap, a literal, risky adventure that could end terribly, it feels both absurd and deeply believable.
What Stuck With Me
There’s a line that sums up the feeling of this book perfectly:
“Infinity meant both something that was limitless as well as something that was untouchably distant.”
That’s what this story captures, the gap between who we are and who we want to be, and the courage it takes to close that distance, even just a little.
The depiction of company life felt spot on. The way Jang Ryujin writes about rank, etiquette, and unspoken hierarchies feels distinctly Korean, but it resonates no matter where you live. It reminded me of what I imagine working in a Seoul office might be like, small indignities stacked on each other until someone finally says, enough.
This isn’t a sentimental book. It’s honest, quick, and quietly empowering. You can’t help but cheer for these women even when their choices make you nervous. They didn’t stumble into success. They studied, took risks, and moved when they were ready. It’s not luck; it’s courage, timing, and belief.
Would I Recommend It
Yes. To the Moon is sharp, funny, and strangely uplifting. It’s about the moment you stop waiting for change and decide to make it happen yourself, even if no one else believes in you yet.
I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys Korean fiction that looks at work, ambition, and identity with both realism and heart. It’s motivational in its own way, about standing tall, trusting your own timing, and taking that leap of faith when life finally dares you to.
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Related Reads
Yellowface - R.F. Kuang
A sharp, satirical look at ambition, authorship, and the hunger for recognition. A perfect counterpoint to To the Moon’s take on professional risk.Blowfish - Kyung-Ran Jo
A quiet, contemplative story about grief, survival, and what it means to start over. Another side of modern Korean womanhood.Sisters in Yellow — Mieko Kawakami
Kawakami’s newest novel on sisterhood, self-perception, and the cost of being seen. An intimate companion to the questions To the Moon leaves behind.
Set the Mood
Murakami’s Coffee Companion – Hario V60 pour-over set for long, quiet mornings.
Japanese Incense Sticks – Sandalwood – for reading by scent and memory.
Minimalist Ceramic Mug – handmade texture, warm neutral tones.
Beethoven Piano Trios Recordings (Archduke Trio) – the real-life music that echoes through this novel.
Soft Leather Bookmark Set – calm colors for surreal nights of reading.
