Kim Ryeo-ryeong | Sister's Weight 007
Bae Mi-ju | Struggles of a Rookie Investigator 037
Lee Hyun | Ordinary Dream 075
Kim Jung-mi | I am Farmer Kim Gwang-su 119
Son Won-pyeong | The Man in the Box 163
Gu Byeong-mo | To the Child of the Grassland 197
Lee Hee-young | Monitor 231
Baek On-yu | Sub 269

Ending Credits 307

Shining a new light
Our second start

This collection of short stories, which is also a project to commemorate the 100th volume of Changbi Youth Literature, which has discovered numerous hit works over the past 10 years, such as 『Wandeukie』, 『Wizard Bakery』, 『Elegant Lies』, and 『Almond』, invites readers back to a familiar and welcome world.
From 『Elegant Lies』 (Kim Ryeo-ryeong), which became a hot topic after its publication and was made into a movie, to the SF 『Sinker』 (Bae Mi-ju) that proposes a new concept of life and solidarity for future generations, 『1945, Cheorwon』 and 『That Summer in Seoul』 (Lee Hyeon) that depict characters moving toward hope in the midst of turmoil with the liberation and Korean War as the backdrop, key events in modern Korean history, and 『Everyone is Dark』 (Kim Jung-mi) that depicts teenagers growing up and nurturing their dreams in a rural area facing difficulties such as multicultural families, FTA, and foot-and-mouth disease, we are all happy to greet you after a long time.
Also, works that have deeply moved us are back, including 『Almond』 (Son Won-pyeong), which announced the successful start of Korean-style English adult novels; 『Bird Strike』 (Koo Byung-mo), a coming-of-age story of two beings who proudly fly in the face of great hatred; 『Paint』 (Lee Hee-young), which raises deep questions about the meaning of parents and family; and 『Yuwon』 (Baek On-yoo), a shining coming-of-age story of a child who survived a traumatic incident.


This work, which allows us to meet characters whose well-being we were curious about even after closing the book, opens up a new world through the perspective of a character who was not a main character in the previous work.
From the protagonist's older sister, friend, and father, to a witness to the incident, a friend who always sat at the back of the classroom, and even a new protagonist from a previous or subsequent generation, each evokes a thrilling sense of nostalgia while simultaneously telling their own complete story as masters of a life without shortcomings.
For readers who have read the original, it is a best-selling spin-off novel collection, and for readers who have not read the original, it is a highly complete new novel collection that conveys the charm of each.

“You live only as yourself”
Warm comfort, touching empathy

"The Second Ending" brings out the stories of hidden characters and delivers a single, moving message with each character's unique voice.
It contains comfort and empathy for those who are just passing figures in someone's life, but live as another protagonist in their own life.
Kim Ryeo-ryeong's "The Weight of My Sister" is the story of Man-ji, the older sister who must shoulder the burden of what is left behind after her younger sister Cheon-ji dies.
The weight of the 'older sister' who cares about the child who bullied her younger sibling out of guilt for not being able to stop the bullying she suffered was heartbreaking.
The comfort that Manji's mother calmly offers to those who live with a heavy burden on their hearts leaves a deep resonance.


“You just have to do your part.
It's hard to live by only doing your own part.
Your heart is wonderful and beautiful, but you live only as yourself.
"I wish that were the case, Mom." ― Kim Ryeo-ryeong, "The Weight of My Sister," p. 31

Bae Mi-ju's "The Struggles of a Rookie Investigator" is the story of Jeong-hu, who goes on his first assignment as an intern epidemiologist.
Jung-hoo is sent to an old Seoul half-submerged in water due to climate change and war, and tracks down a strange virus, but the city is soon locked down.
Even in a future society where the living environment has completely changed, the story of the struggles of a rookie intern continues to resonate across time and generations.


Lee Hyun's "Ordinary Dream" is the story of Mirae, a North Korean girl who is forced to give up her dreams due to her family's decision to defect.
It leaves a deep impression as it painfully depicts the situation in which one has to give up not only one's dream as a boxer, but also one's 'normal daily life' with family and friends.
Kim Jung-mi's "I am Farmer Kim Gwang-su" warmly depicts the growth of Gwang-su, who pursues his dream of becoming a farmer in rural Ganghwa Island.
In Gwangsu's appearance, who does not lose his own convictions even in the changing rural environment, we discover his honest faith and courage.


Adventure doesn't have to mean leaving the place where you were born and raised.
It is also an adventure to keep living in the place I have always lived in and to do things that others do not do.
― Kim Jung-mi, "I am Farmer Kim Gwang-su," page 161

The efforts of those who have lost family or are at a major crossroads in their lives to struggle through hardship and find their own path shine brightly.
By deeply rooting for new protagonists who choose to be themselves rather than follow the path of others, readers can also experience the emotion of having their own lives supported through literature.


With the characters we love
A new world to discover

It is not easy for anyone to present their entire self in the face of discriminatory views from those around them.
That is why the attempts of people who break out of the cold or established framework are all the more valuable.
Son Won-pyeong's "The Man in the Box" questions the possibility of pure goodwill and solidarity in a society where it is difficult to show genuine kindness to one another.
The protagonist lives with his hands tightly shut, fearing that his good intentions might be misunderstood by someone or ruin his life.
Because in order to reach others, you have to break the mold and expose your own vulnerable side.
But the accidental act of goodwill he discovers creates small but big ripples in his life.


Gu Byeong-mo's "To the Child of the Grassland" contains a warm welcome message to a child who must endure discriminatory gazes.
This work allows us to contemplate the true meaning of hospitality and solidarity as we witness the beginning of a community that recognizes each other's shortcomings and lives by leaning on each other.


Because someday you will save someone else instead of me.
I'm good enough as I am, but you help others as much as you feel you haven't helped me.
― Koo Byeong-mo, “To the Child of the Grassland,” p. 208

Lee Hee-young's "Monitor" is a work that follows people who have embarked on a new journey with affectionate eyes and poses questions about a society that has not yet changed.
Rowoon, who was able to live a comfortable life with new parents, revealed the stigma that could have been hidden, and as he entered society carrying that stigma, we question the scale of the world we see.
Baek On-yu's "Sub" is the story of two sisters who quit soccer, and it takes a cold look at a world that determines failure at an early age.
It delicately explores the feelings of teenagers who experience violence within the sports world, and conveys a strong voice that cannot be belittled by anyone.


Can we be happy?
Even a little bit.
After I become a little happier, shouldn't I live feeling sorry towards that child?
― Baek On-yu, "Sub," p. 305

Some novels' endings are so precious that you can't think about what comes next.
But I miss seeing you like an old friend.
"The Second Ending" is as affectionate as a greeting to my heart.
― @hyel********

I'm looking forward to the third ending too! ― @re******

I was so glad to see that the main character was doing well.
I hope that all the main characters in 'The Second Ending' will be happy.
― @in_********

For those who read it without knowing the original work, it offers a charm that draws them to the original work, and for those who read it because they like the original work, it offers the experience of meeting a friend they care about again.
If you pick up a book and read it because you're curious about the side stories of some works, it seems like it's a book that will draw you back to the original works of all the works.
If you've read any of these, you should read "The Second Ending"! ― @sp********

It's titled 'The Second Ending', but I'd like to read it as 'The Second Beginning'.
(…) A book that lets you feel the joy of opening a gift box filled with stories of characters you may have only briefly encountered in previous works.
― @mo**********