Visually impaired skier Nam Woo-hee and guide runner Kang Ye-ri
A passionate and brilliant story of youth
The first full-length novel by the author of the drama "My Perfect Secretary"
Kyobo Bookstore X Lotte Cultureworks Sports Theme Contest Winning Works

Author Ji-eun, who received rave reviews for re-examining the value of care beyond romance through the drama "My Perfect Secretary," presents her first full-length novel, "Gliding."
A work depicting the conflicts and growth experienced by two talented girls, Nam Woo-hee and Kang Ye-ri, who were once promising prospects and rivals in South Korea's alpine skiing, when they meet again as a visually impaired athlete and a guide runner.
This is a warm tribute to all the youth of this land who will unfold the most dazzling glide at their own pace.
In the third year of middle school, at the Winter Sports Festival, Nam Woo-hee loses her eyesight in an unexpected accident in the final game before sweeping all competitions, and Kang Ye-ri loses her last position as an athlete due to difficult family circumstances and a severe slump.
The two people who experienced a deep fall at the moment of their most brilliant shining hold each other's hands only for skiing.
The writer, who received acclaim for her portrayal of delicate relationships between characters in the drama "My Perfect Secretary," goes beyond a simple sports drama about overcoming obstacles and hardships in this work, movingly showing the process of two people who have experienced failure and frustration understanding each other's world, forming solidarity, and growing together.
At the end of the book, there is an exclusive interview with Nam Woo-hee and Kang Ye-ri, now twenty, which is like a special gift from the author to the readers.

If someone had asked me back then, what would I have said? I went from a promising ski prodigy to someone who'd lost their future in an instant. And that was a relief? The world, which had been perfectly clear until yesterday, suddenly became foggy, and I couldn't even walk straight. Is that really a relief? Doctor, if your daughter suffered an accident like this, would you still be thankful she didn't go completely blind?
Ugh, this is really the worst.

--- p.12

Ice Princess.
That was another nickname for ski prodigy Kang Ye-ri.
A cold and haughty expression like ice is a given, the earphones always in his ears as if telling him not to talk to him, the cold smile that can only be seen when he wears a gold medal around his neck, he is the type of person who is truly unlucky.
If that kind of kid wasn't that good, she would have been criticized a lot, but Kang Ye-ri skied so cleanly and perfectly that it was just like her personality.

--- p.26

"Hey, Kang Ye-ri, are you going to keep skiing alone like that? I'm going to have another accident because of you..."
I couldn't bring myself to say that I almost had an accident.
The moment I take it out, I feel like the terrible memories of that day will flood back to me.
“……You said you’d make me believe, is this what you mean by making me believe?”
It didn't sound like me.
A low, cold voice that even I was hearing for the first time.
I realized for the first time that when I get angry, my mind becomes calm and collected.
And at the same time, it can be cruel.”
--- p.45

“You don’t care how much I can see or how far you can see?”
Kang Ye-ri is quiet, as if she has been hit on the nail on the head.
“I was able to go to school just fine without you.
People who are adapting well, don't bother me and don't pay attention to me.
“I don’t appreciate any sympathy like that.”
“Hey, that’s not sympathy…….”
“Giving help when it’s not needed, that’s pity.”
--- p.64

“South Korea’s first Paralympic alpine skiing gold medal.
“I’ll do that.”
“Then I will do it too.”
I liked Kang Ye-ri's answer.
So this time, I reached out first.
Kang Ye-ri also took my hand without hesitation.

--- p.85

I wanted to ask you if you quit skiing because your skis got too heavy for you to handle, and if the skis we ride together have gotten a little lighter now, but I couldn't.
At least while we were skiing together, I couldn't convey to you my wish that your skis would become lighter.

--- p.104-105

I hurried out of the room, intending to wake Yeri up, but Yeri was already standing in front of the door, dressed in ski clothes.
I felt happy but also a little annoyed, so I laughed and scolded Yeri.
“You really can’t stop it either.
Aren't you tired of skiing?
“What’s so good about the eyes that I’ve been watching so tirelessly throughout the game?”
“Honey.
let's go."
"huh.

--- p.109

“Yeri… I can’t see anything.”
Yeri hugged me without saying anything.
And he kept stroking my back and whispering sweetly.
"are you okay.
are you okay."
Neither Yeri, who was saying those words, nor I, who was listening, knew exactly what was okay when nothing was okay, but strangely, hearing Yeri say that it was okay made me feel a little relieved.

--- p.117

“Okay then.
“Let’s practice again starting tomorrow.”
I couldn't help but laugh at those words that made my worries seem like nothing.
“What kind of petty reaction is that?
“I’ve been worrying so much.”
"just.
“I think I would have made the same choice.”
It was the perfect comfort that only Yeri could give.

--- p.121

Step by step, the rhythm that had been strangely out of sync at some point became synchronized as if it were the footsteps of one person.
Strangely enough, I felt a strange sense of relief when I realized that Kang Ye-ri and I were running at the same pace and breathing rate, without even trying hard or trying to keep pace.
There was no apology or explanation, but it seemed like the commotion of the day was finally dying down.
And at least for this moment, I thought that Kang Ye-ri and I felt the same way.

--- p.144