With the dream technology of moving time genes
A world where you can buy time if you have money!
“Come to the Time Store right now.”

The evil conspiracy of those who dream of eternal life,
A thrilling chase as children uncover their secrets!

Discover the shining value of life at the "Time Store," where time reigns supreme.

"The era of buying and selling time has arrived!": A new concept in science fantasy from Kim Hye-jeong, a writer beloved by teenage readers.

Author Kim Hye-jeong, who has been receiving enthusiastic support and love from teenage readers across various genres, such as “Hunter Girl,” a hero story about protecting children from bad adults, “Fifteen Years Later,” which creates unique characters based on the Dangun myth and the legend of the fox, and “Thirteen-Year-Old Walking Club,” which depicts the friendship and courage of children who walk together at different speeds and paces, presents science fantasy this time.
"Time Gene," which is based on the motif of a world where "time is bought and sold," is set in a cutting-edge future world where almost everything can be solved with the push of a button.
As science and technology have developed, we have reached a stage where we can control the age of the human body.
Now, a technology called 'time gene transfer' has been developed, which cuts the DNA of the time gene and transplants it into another person.
This creates a world where the rich buy time genes to enjoy eternal life, and the poor sell time genes to dream of a life of abundance.


How do people use their time in this world? A mother who wants to sell her time genes and live a rich life rather than live a long life in poverty; a father who is depressed at how much older he has become than his friends after selling his time genes; Ji-hoo who lives like a robot under his mother's meticulous time management to achieve success faster than others; Aunt Seo-rin who believes that happiness should be chosen over money even if it means being a little poor; and Mr. Yoo who founded a time store and amassed enormous wealth, but his life became boring as his life became infinite.
This work depicts a diverse group of people living with their own stubbornness and colors surrounding the time gene.

Fifty years ago, a genetic research team studying progeria (a disease that causes rapid aging) and Highlander syndrome (a disease in which aging stops due to a deficiency of growth hormone) discovered the chronogeneic gene.
It was said that the human body ages when the time gene shortens, and aging stops for a certain period of time when the time gene lengthens.


Through extensive research, the genetic research team developed a 'time gene transfer' technology that cuts the DNA of the time gene and transplants it into a person with a similar genetic structure.

Time Store was quick to move forward and turn its "time gene transfer" technology into a revenue model.
Since then, anyone who wanted to could artificially control the length of the time gene.
However, in order to increase the length of the time gene, one had to pay a lot of money because one had to transplant another person's time gene.
Conversely, people who cut off their own time genes and donated them could earn that much money.
Ultimately, the 'time gene transfer' technology has opened a new era in which time is bought and sold.
〔syncopation〕

At some point, the time gene transfer of the time store became a dream technology for those who wanted to live long.
Nowadays, countless people are using the time store without you.

--- pp.6~7

I absolutely hated the color green.
My body has been covered in blotchy green spots since birth.
After several surgeries, the green spots are now completely gone, but I still avoid even things that are similar to green.

“When will I ever get my own car? Hey, wait until I’m twenty.
"I should sell my time genes right now and use the money to buy a car! A red, high-speed flying sports car at that! Then everyone would be super jealous, right?"

Eunchan smiled happily, feeling good just imagining it.

“Anyway, Ojihu, I envy you the most.
My mom and dad always say they don't have money, but they say they won't sell their time genes even if they die."

There were also people who, like Eunchan's parents, had a negative view of the Time Store.
But I think time gene travel is the greatest scientific technology humans have ever created.
If it weren't for that technology, I'd still be living as a green monster.
Mom and Dad used the money they earned by selling my time genes to completely erase the green spots from my body.

“Ji-hu, when we turn twenty, let’s go buy time genes together.”
“Yeah, our genes will sell out in no time.”

We were already laughing hysterically as if we had made money selling time genes.

Time genes can be sold from the point when the body's growth is fully complete.
Time genes can usually be sold from the age of twenty, but the younger the age, the better the sales.
The Time Store said that being younger doesn't necessarily mean your time genes are healthier, but people thought that the younger you are, the better your time genes would be.

When I turn twenty, I'll sell four years' worth of time genes.
I would have liked to sell all four years' worth at once, but that was prohibited by law.
The Time Gene had to be sold for only one year's supply every two years.

--- pp.22~23

Mr. Yoo insisted that people call him Mr. Yoo.
I like the title 'Mister' or something.
But Mr. You didn't seem like much of a Mr.
He was too old to be called an uncle, but too young to be called a grandfather.
So when I called him 'Mr. Haljeo', he yelled at me, saying that such a strange thing could happen.

“The ice cream is too sweet.
“Sweets like this are bad for your health.”

Mr. Yoo grumbled with great confidence, even though he was the one who took it away.
If that's the case, you might as well not eat it.
Anyway, he was a person I didn't like.
The reason Mr. Yoo can be so confident is because he doesn't look old.


In this society, looking old meant being poor.
Most of the old people were depressed and did not go out much.
There was only one type of old man who could be proud.
A rich old man who buys a lot of time genes to maintain his youthful appearance.

Mr. Yoo was one of the founders of the Time Store and was extremely wealthy.
According to rumors, it is said to be well over a hundred years old.
How many time genes did he have to buy to keep himself from aging? Selling time genes was limited to once every two years, but buying them was free.

--- p.32

The scheduler's alarm went off.
It was already time to go home.
When I was with Serang, thirty minutes felt like three seconds.
When I'm with my older sister, I want to slow down time and make it pass by slowly.

“Sister, I’m going to go now.”
“Jihu, thank you.”

As I was about to get up from my seat, Serang stroked my head and said.

“I’m so glad you’re here.”

Sister Serang smiled brightly.
My sister's eyes became crescent-shaped.
My heart started pounding.
Oh, why is this happening? I pressed my left chest with my right hand, afraid my heart would jump out.
What you just said is exactly what I always wanted to say to Serang.


I'm so glad I have an older sister.

“Ji-hoo, I wish you were my younger brother.”

My real brother… … .
This time my heart sank.
Eight, it was good but it ended badly.


“See you tomorrow, sister.”

I greeted Serang noona awkwardly and left the store.
I wish I could turn twenty soon and sell my time genes.

--- p.46

I've been wanting to ask my aunt for a long time.
I couldn't understand the Anti-Time Store that my aunt was working at.
Thanks to the Time Store, poor people can make money by selling their time genes, and rich people can buy their time genes to live longer… … .
What on earth is the problem?


As time began to be converted into money, people began to value it more than before.
No one ever wasted their life.


“In a world where everyone lives well, why do people like me live in Tower Village?”
“That’s because my aunt didn’t sell the time gene.
And I waste my time haphazardly… … .”

I thought, "Oh no," but the word "random" had already come out of my mouth.
Actually, I was thinking similarly to my mother.
My aunt was nice, but I didn't understand why she lived like that.

“There are many people in Tower Village who have sold their time genes.
But those people still live in Tower Village.”
“Auntie, that’s because you only think about selling your time genes and don’t do any work.”

I refuted my aunt's words.
I learned that much in school.


"Is that really true? This society isn't as simple as you think.
There are clearly realities that cannot be resolved through individual effort.
Because of the time store, kids like you are selling time genes.
"Can we even tell those children that this world is a good place to live? The Anti-Time Store is a must-have organization for those who have no choice but to lose time."
“That’s ridiculous.
“That’s all just rumors.”
“We are investigating, so the truth will come out soon.”

My aunt said the same thing a year ago.
As my mother said, the Anti-Time Store seemed like a problematic organization.
For my aunt to believe such a rumor was no different from Eunchan.

--- pp.57~60