Lunchbox of delicacies from the mountains and seas
JS of JS
Uses of triangle kimbap
One plus one
Inconvenient convenience store
Ten thousand won for four cans
It's a discarded product, but it's still okay
ALWAYS

Acknowledgements

The joy of one plus one, the sadness of a triangle kimbap, and four bursts of laughter for ten thousand won!
A slightly special convenience store story for those of us living in difficult times.

Since his debut with "Mangwon-dong Brothers," which won the 2013 World Literature Award for Excellence, author Kim Ho-yeon has built a unique world of works by moving between lighthearted works that wittily depict everyday reality and thriller genres that unravel the innermost desires of human beings with a whimsical imagination.
His fifth full-length novel, “The Inconvenient Convenience Store,” was published by Namuyaeuija.
"Inconvenient Convenience Store" is a warm and humorous work that depicts the inner workings and joys and sorrows of our neighbors living in difficult times, set in a small convenience store on the corner of an alley in Cheongpa-dong.
Just as the experiential geography of Mangwon-dong was effectively utilized in "Mangwon-dong Brothers" to create a pleasant sense of fun and empathy, this time, the synesthesia of Cheongpa-dong, an old neighborhood in Seoul, was vividly captured, creating another exciting "neighborhood story."


The story begins when a man named Dokgo, who was living on the streets of Seoul Station, finds a wallet from a woman in her 70s and starts working at a convenience store she runs.
This man, who is as big as a bear, has alcoholic dementia and cannot remember his past. He speaks awkwardly and is slow in his movements, making you wonder if he can really serve customers. But surprisingly, he is not only quite good at his job, but he also strangely captivates those around him, becoming a reliable worker who guards the convenience store at night.


As befitting a work by an author who is adept at portraying realistic characters and their interactions in a breathtaking manner, this novel features characters with unique personalities and stories who appear one after another, bickering with each other and forming peculiar relationships.
The characters are Ms. Yeom, a convenience store owner who retired from teaching history at a high school and whose teacher instincts kick in in everything; Si-hyeon, a 20-something job seeker who works part-time; Ms. Oh, a 50-something part-timer who only makes ends meet; Gyeong-man, an office worker who relieves the day's stress by drinking alone with a Cham Cham Cham set (sesame ramen, tuna kimbap, and Chamisul) at an outdoor table every night; In-kyung, a playwright in her 30s who came to Cheongpa-dong to write with the determination that this is her last chance; Ms. Yeom's son Min-sik, who is always on the lookout for an opportunity to sell off the convenience store; and Kwak, a private investigator who is hired by Min-sik to investigate Dok-go.
Each of these people, each burdened by the heavy burden of life and facing realistic problems, observes Dokgo through their own perspectives. The misunderstandings, confrontations, clashes, twists, understanding, and empathy that arise in the process often bring out bursts of laughter and at times, bring tears to the eyes.
The small convenience store in the alley, once an extremely inconvenient place, becomes a special space that comforts those struggling in life and shares laughter.

ALWAYS, a small convenience store located in an alley in Cheongpa-dong.

One day, a man who lived near Seoul Station came to work at night.
A wind of change is blowing through convenience stores!

The transformation and reversal of a character that people avoided and looked at with prejudice, as well as the ironic development of the situation, are the most interesting aspects of this novel.
Mrs. Yeom's convenience store is a place where employees receive relatively good treatment and have a stable job, but as more convenience stores open in the area, she falls behind in competition and faces a difficult business situation.
As a result, the convenience store is perceived as an 'inconvenient convenience store' by the locals, and in the midst of this, the existing employees cannot help but feel uneasy about entrusting the night shift to a 'foolish bear' who was a homeless person until recently.
But the worries were short-lived, as after he entered, a refreshing wind of change began to blow through the convenience store.
He's quite adept at dealing with thugs and drunkards in the middle of the night who try to steal things and then run off, and he even makes the so-called "JS" customers walk away with both hands.
Not only that, but even the elderly people in the neighborhood who used to avoid convenience stores because they were expensive start to come to the convenience store to drink thanks to Dokgo's cheerful attitude, and as a result, morning sales go up.


The wind of change that Dokgo brought about was also passed on to his colleagues.
Si-hyeon, who is preparing for the civil service exam while working part-time at a convenience store, discovers her hidden talent through a word he blurts out while training Dok-go, a new employee, in store operations.
After a while, she is scouted by another convenience store.
Mrs. Oh, who is burning inside due to the severance of her relationship with her son, is deeply impressed by Dokgo, who listens to her complaints and subtly suggests ways to communicate with her son.
On the other hand, some customers can guess the appearance of the owner from Dokgo's gaze and attitude towards customers.
Kyung-man, a salesman who is losing his presence both at home and at work, finds his only pleasure in drinking alone at a convenience store on his way home from work. But one day, he starts to look at a man who has taken over the convenience store at night with disapproval, assuming that he is the owner.
But his frozen heart also melts in front of Dokgo's pure kindness.


The Dokgo effect doesn't stop there.
Min-sik, who tried to get Mrs. Yeom to kick out Dok-go and sell the convenience store, becomes closer to his mother in the process of persuading her, and Mr. Kwak, who was investigating Dok-go at Min-sik's behest, ends up empathizing with Dok-go, who is the target.
In-kyung, a playwright who left Daehak-ro in an exhausted state and is now concentrating on her last writing, regains the courage to write through conversations with a strange part-timer who was a homeless person at Seoul Station every night for reporting purposes.
Perhaps, in this convenience store, both customers and employees are a source of salvation and inspiration to one another.
When Mrs. Yeom first offered her a helping hand, Dokgo's acceptance was close to his last instinct to survive, and thanks to her, Mrs. Yeom also gained a reliable person to take care of the convenience store at night, so they protected each other.


Life is about relationships and communication,
Happiness is not far away, but lies in sharing your heart with those around you.

The novel depicts Dokgo through the eyes of various characters surrounding the convenience store over seven episodes.
And the last part ends with Dokgo's monologue.
As Dokgo becomes more proficient at convenience store work, he gradually regains his memories.
As I met people and had conversations, my brain, which had been hardened by alcohol, became activated and the pieces of my memories began to fit together.
How did he lose everything, become a drunkard, lose his memory, and become homeless?
What is clear is that after two seasons at the convenience store, he decided to start over again.
As he was almost regaining his memory, news came that the coronavirus was spreading uncontrollably in the Daegu area.
Along with him, the time of decision comes for Dokgo as well.


The story of a strange convenience store that draws us in despite its inconvenience arrives just in time for us, who are still living in uncomfortable times due to the coronavirus, and brings cheerful laughter and warm comfort.
When you close the last page, you will be reminded of the consistent truth that life is about relationships and communication, and that happiness lies in sharing your heart with those around you.


She knew well that convenience stores were places where people came and went frequently, places where customers and employees alike stayed and left without exception, gas stations where people recharged their batteries, whether it was goods or money.
At this gas station, I didn't just fill up my car, they fixed it.
If you fix it, you should leave.
I have to get back on the road.
It seemed like she was telling me that.
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