A world that becomes deeper, wider, and more adorable after meeting Korean readers.
〈My Future Hope is, Cute Grandma〉 5th Anniversary Extended Edition!

From the planning stages where I didn't know this book would become something like this, to the tumultuous production process, to the novel collaboration with immersive readers.
In this special edition filled with stories of how 'I' became 'we,' discover the book's incredible journey, which continues even now.

How far can a single essay take us? The journey begins with you, lost in your own worries and unwilling to befriend anyone, on a bus heading back to Germany after a trip to Denmark.
You make eye contact with the person sitting next to you.
A faint smile is exchanged, and they soon become friends.
The person next to you is Danish and invites you to his home.

“Do you want to come to my house?”

But you were planning to stay in Germany and then return to Korea.
What is your choice?

Some will follow the scheduled itinerary, while others will give up their trip to Germany to accept the invitation.
Here, the person named 'Summer' (Korean name Ha-jeong) was the latter.
He documented his time at home in Denmark and compiled his experiences into a book titled “My Future Hope is a Cute Grandmother” (2019, Good Summer).

This book soon created a new wind through the unfamiliar combination of keywords: 'grandmother' and 'future hope.'
Hidden in the book was the secret of the Danish lifestyle, which is loved worldwide despite not being influenced by trends.
It was a family culture that was passed down naturally yet intricately.
A Danish father (Erwi) sends postcards to his daughter (Annette) throughout his life, and the daughter later creates embroidery works for her own daughter (Julie) for 30 years.
Postcards, knitting, flea markets, gardens… People who capture the essence of life in the little things of everyday life and pass it down from generation to generation.
That image was a good example of what we need now, and a glimpse into the future.
Korean readers immediately recognized the invisible connection between themselves and the Danish family in the book.

Reviews followed, with many pledging to write postcards to their children or to cherish family records.
Readers even created a group called 'Hamt' to knit Annette's knitted bags together and held an exhibition.
The sense of a Danish family, so far and yet so close, was gently but steadily transmitted to Korea.

Finally, in January 2023, the official exhibition was held.
Annette's knitted bag and Awi's drawings were exhibited, and the works were brought directly from Denmark to Korea by Julie.
The person who invited the author to his home on the bus was now invited to the author's country and home.

The book became deeper and broader as it met its readers, and the readers became even more lovable as they met the characters and objects in the book in person.
And on Christmas Eve 2023, to mark the 5th anniversary of its first printing, a special book was reborn.
This is the 5th anniversary expanded edition of 『My Future Hope is a Cute Grandma』.
This book is richly filled with stories of people, time, and space surrounding it.

The story of how a photo book was intended to be an essay, friends who gave up their precious year-end holidays to participate in the book after being 'lured' by the author, a story about how the cover almost came out completely different, and even stories of readers who exclaimed, "There are such wonderful people out there" - the book has expanded into a more affectionate and three-dimensional form.

The regret of readers who said, “I read each page sparingly because it was a pity to read it all,” may now be alleviated a little.
Or, you might be curious to see what kind of person or story will be added in the future, and you might already be waiting for the 10th anniversary edition.

The author first observed a Danish family, and then observed the life of the book.
The creator, the reader, those who will read it in the future, and even myself - "Future Hope, Cute Grandma" is a record of the journey of those who willingly answer the question, "How far can a single essay take us?"

Summer and the Danish family still express their gratitude to our readers and welcome new readers.
And still ask.

“Do you want to come to my house?”
So, what's your choice?