Horror, mystery, fantasy, thriller, human…
The Han River flowing in seven colors

Seven writers representing Korean genre literature
Stories from upstream to downstream

Seven people representing Korean genre literature met.
Jang Kang-myeong, Jeong Hae-yeon, Lim Ji-hyeong, Cha Mu-jin, Park San-ho, Jo Young-ju, Jeong Myeong-seop.
These are authors whose names alone inspire both trust and anticipation in readers.
Jang Kang-myeong, a salaryman realist novelist who explores humanity and society across fiction and non-fiction; Jeong Hae-yeon, who always delivers the thrill of pushing the boundaries; Lim Ji-hyeong, who captivates both youth and adult readers; Cha Mu-jin, who strikes a balance between popularity and literary value; Park San-ho, a renowned translator and essayist who expanded his horizons to become a novelist; Jo Yeong-ju, who freely explores mystery, romance, and science fiction; and Jeong Myeong-seop, the all-round entertainer of the Korean genre literature world.
"Han River" is an anthology that they developed with the Han River, the river that symbolizes South Korea, as its background.


The Han River originates in Taebaek, Gangwon-do, flows through Seoul, the capital of South Korea, and then flows through Gimpo, Gyeonggi-do, before flowing into the Yellow Sea.
During the Three Kingdoms period, it was called 'Arisu' and 'Ukriha', during the Goryeo period, it was called 'Yeolsu', and during the Joseon period, it was called 'Gyeonggang'.
The depth of the Han River is generally 3 to 5 meters, but it likely contains countless stories accumulated over a long period of time.
The writers took inspiration from this.
The diversity of genres, as well as the pathos created by the interweaving of countless characters and events, including comedy and tragedy, humans and animals, past and future.
Each of the works included in 『Han River』 is outstanding, but reading them together leaves a lasting impression.

If there are a group of mermaids in the Han River, will the people who live in houses with a view of the Han River, which everyone envies, be happy? Can running along the Han River be a way to save oneself? Where do the souls of those who threw themselves into the Han River go? The lives of the lost animals that have made their home on the Han River bridges, the terrifying consequences of the sunset on the Han River that incites human desires, the suffocating scene on a cruise ship leisurely floating down the Han River, etc.
『Han River』 presents readers with a variety of stories, just like the Han River, which may look the same every day, but is never the same stream.

Pasolmire, who had come to his senses, avoided the writhing legs of the giant squid and went somewhere. Then, he grabbed a human hand from among the herrings and lifted it up.
There was another mermaid there, with dark skin and golden hair.
The mermaid stared at Pasolmire silently with her yellow eyes.
Below the waist, the fish tail was transforming into legs.
The brain of the herring colony that attacked the Han River was a mermaid.
That's why this colony was so smart.

--- p.38 From “Mermaids and Herrings of the Han River”

During this time, quite a few bodies were found in the Han River.
However, most of the witnesses did not come forward.
Spring is a season with many people, and the crowds don't diminish until night.
They are each immersed in their own happiness.
The eyes of a person who is immersed in happiness see nothing but the joy of happiness.
I don't think there's anyone out there who would dump a body.
Not realizing the shadow of evil.
Now there was only one thing he could look forward to.
This is the story that Park Hee-sook's body will tell.

--- p.94 From “A House with a View of the Han River”

But this girl, this time, can't give up.
If I could save this child, maybe I would be able to see my son again.
It was an unfounded belief, but it was enough for Juha.
I took a step forward with that belief.

--- p.143 From “The Woman Running Along the Han River”

The woman hurled a torrent of curses at Jiyeon, something she never wanted to hear again.
From then on, as if by magic, the cafe became deserted.
The guests came and went like mermaids in the Han River, then disappeared like the ebb tide as the woman started spewing out curses.
With that woman.

--- p.179 From “Ghosts Send People to Cafes”

I sniffed the air.
The smell of the wind.
The smell of autumn.
The smell of fallen leaves.
I jumped out of his arms.
I ran behind him, leaving him flustered with a sausage clenched in his mouth.
Towards the stairs I went down when I went for a walk with my mom.
“No, Typhoon! Wait! Let’s go together!” I heard a shout from behind me, but I ran without looking back and thought.

sorry.
I have to go find my mom.
Mom, I'll save you!
--- p.208 From "Run, Typhoon Kang!"

A mysterious woman who runs along the Han River every day, a black Shiba Inu who runs freely in the grass, a writer who claims to have seen mermaids and herring in the Han River, a homeless person who loiters in front of a cafe along the Han River every day, etc.
I met many different people, but I never heard of anyone seeing a monster.

--- p.245 From "Heat Wave"

Hello. I'm Haemosu, the artificial intelligence responsible for the Arion's test run.
Welcome aboard Nam Yoon-ah.
As this is a test run, as we have informed you, contact with the outside world will be blocked.
When the Arion returns here after completing its test run, the communication jamming device will stop working.
Enjoy the party and feel free to call me anytime you need me.

--- p.280 From “The Request of Haemosu”