Part 1

ferry
Sheep
Son Bu-gyeong and Hwang Yeong-gyeong

Part 2

Before the incident
After the incident
case

Part 3

August Conversation
waiter
letter

Part 4

possible future
new tank
Second wildfire
Outside the world
The final chapter of "The Man Who Goes to Matera Every Day"

Author's Note
Recommendation

“You said that one day people would worship tanks as gods.”
With unparalleled imagination, three-dimensional characters, and a dense narrative
Drawing a giant container in the middle of life

The author majored in film in college and has worked as a 'mixing engineer' for over 10 years, adding sound to and processing various films and albums, which further enriches the story of 'Tank'.
In "Tank," there are people who believe in tanks, people whose lovers believe in tanks, people who built tanks, and people who lost someone in tanks. The author's detailed and sensitive gaze follows their movements without a single gap.
The details of the incident that are gradually revealed along the way and the three-dimensional and thrilling scene transitions make it impossible to take your eyes off the screen, as if you were watching a movie.

The novel is divided into four parts and tells the stories of those who witnessed the tank incident that day.
Part 1 is the story of people who gathered in a tank, each with their own story.
Do-seon, a promising screenwriter who has experienced a long slump and the ups and downs of life after divorce, is fascinated by the tank that comes to him “when he desperately needs it, in the form he most wants to believe in.” As expected, on that day when he looks for the tank, he encounters a thick black smoke billowing out.
Yang-woo, an ordinary factory worker, becomes lovers with Dup-dup, whom he meets on a chat app.
Meanwhile, Yang-woo receives a message from Dupdup, who disappeared without a word after a big fight, and hurriedly visits the tank.
Hwang Young-kyung, who founded the 'Tank Era' after being taught by the first tank founder 'Ruben', and her half-sister and reservation manager Son Bu-kyung also head to the tank after hearing that a large fire is about to engulf the tank.

Ruben laughed.
The moment people start to believe in that space, change begins.
The moment people pray in an empty space, they finally know what they want and discover a new side of themselves they never knew existed.
When the new self you discover in this way leads you into a world you have never set foot in before, from then on anything is possible and you can be anything… … .
Page 65

Part 2 is about the events of 'that day'.
Yang-woo finally arrives at the tank and sees a pale, dead man. Do-seon, who arrived after him, jumps into the tank to rescue Yang-woo, who is holding the body and crying like a madman.
After the 'incident', founder Hwang Young-kyung is arrested, and ominous rumors about a 'container that grants wishes' begin to circulate, and Do-seon repeatedly has dreams of limp hands and feet, rough crying, and a man whose face he clearly knows.
Part 2 also highlights the story of Dupdup's father, Kang Gyu-san. Kang Gyu-san, who was unable to accept his son's identity, ends up facing his son who returns as a corpse.


It was exactly 68 days later that Kang Gyu-san met his child again.
The child was smaller than when I saw him last summer.
The white blanket covering the child did not flutter as before.
I couldn't even hear the child's gasping breathing.
Kang Gyu-san placed his hand on the child's cold instep.
My heart sank endlessly.
There was a phrase I had been mulling over in my head every day for 68 days, but it wouldn't come out of my mouth.
There wasn't a single sentence that remained in my heart.
Page 131

Part 3 is the story of the people left behind after Dudup's death and the new tank.
Dosun begins to write about Dudup's story in order to uncover the mysterious death of Dudup, who believed in the 'future' and 'hope' more than anyone else. Yangwoo happens to read the scenario written by Dosun and decides to meet her.
Son Bu-gyeong asks the village chief where the tank was located to dispose of the burned-down tank on behalf of Hwang Yeong-gyeong, and the chief tells Son Bu-gyeong, who seems resigned, “See you then when something strong comes in.”
How is that possible?
Hwang Young-kyung is in prison, and a new tank is being built here, right on the spot where a person died… … .

Something seemed to be pushing Yangwoo out of life little by little.
Was it like this for Dudup too?
Dopdup was pushed out of life like this, and at some point, he said, "Oh, oh," and was completely pushed out.
Page 174

Part 4 is the story of people waiting for the future outside of the 'tank', perhaps the brightest future that Dudu had been praying for.
Upon hearing the news of the new tank, Son Bu-gyeong realizes that he cannot be Hwang Yeong-gyeong's 'companion of faith' and leaves the house with a lighter. Do-seon, who returns to the sacred area to complete Dudup's story, witnesses another fire.
Even though the new tank was burned down, tanks soon began to sprout up everywhere, and Yang-woo unfolded the last chapter of the scenario that Do-seon had given him to send Dup-dup away.

It seemed as if I could finally understand how life works: an unexpected future suddenly appeared before my eyes, passing through Kang Gyu-san and all of Kang Gyu-san, marching into the past.
Page 267

"Following the novel, we might call this the 'Age of Tanks.'"
Beyond today's topics such as disasters, queers, religion, and youth issues
A bold and cautiously optimistic narrative of love.

"Tank" is a "religious novel for a godless age" and a "novel about faith."
However, the final chapter of the screenplay written by Dosun, “The Man Who Goes to Matera Every Day,” does not end with simply preaching or defining the fear of “faith.”
'Dubdub', who wished for his identity to be accepted by his loved ones, 'Doseon', who had to write to meet his estranged daughter, 'Yangwoo', who realized that there is a faith that must be held on to in order to survive, and 'Kang Gyusan', who silently lives with the last sentence he wanted to say to his son, are people who prayed "not because they believed in miracles or God, but to speak and hear words of love."
"Tank" masterfully portrays these poor prayer warriors as they ultimately "break through the veil of blind, fanatic cults," boldly advocating for "the cautious optimism that can only be achieved after experiencing the full difficulty of understanding others."


In this way, 『Tank』 willingly “brings the reader of this era, where it is very difficult to know what one wants and achieve it,” “to love.”
The love between Dupdup and Yangwoo, expressed more thoughtfully than any other relationship, gives us a new sense that “only the belief in love can sustain life, and only love can make a solid world a little different.”
The wit of creating the 'most hopeful story' with today's pressing topics and sharp awareness of issues such as disasters, queers, pseudo-religions, and youth issues makes us look forward to the novel world of author Kim Hee-jae, who will be presented after 'Tank'.

■ Author's Note

22.10.10.

… … Yesterday, I went to church for the first time in a long time and many stories came to mind.
A linear story of events and people with no clear structure.
But the word that remains in my mind until this morning is 'tank'.
I want to create a story where everything revolves around this word.


23.01.03.

I was trying to write down my new mindset and expectations for the new year, but my head is a tank.
… … If there is something I wish for, it is not ‘completion’ but ‘discovery’.
I want to discover a direction I've never thought of before.


23.01.27.

Part 3 is being completely rewritten.
I don't know where the story is going.
Still, I hope something beautiful happens while I'm writing.


23.05.01.

It's already May.
I think about tanks all day long.
If there was a real tank, I'd be the first to reserve it.

23.05.16.

Okay.
thank you