HALLYU KATRIBU: ‘The Vegetarian’ by Han Kang — Revolting from within

Han Kang’s The Vegetarian is one of the most hauntingly beautiful novels I have read. 

Translated from Korean by Deborah Smith, the book centers on women who are persecuted for daring to establish their own identity in a community encapsulated by standards and stereotypes.

The first chapter is told by the protagonist’s husband, Mr. Cheong, who unabashedly describes Yeong Hye as “completely unremarkable in every way.” As a wife, she doesn’t get worked up if he comes home late. How he, a completely ordinary man himself who chose a job that values his unremarkable skills, thinks that it is only fair that he should marry the most run-of-the-mill woman in the world. 

According to him, Yeong Hye completely makes for an ordinary wife who goes about things without any distasteful frivolousness. She is a woman of few words. Never demands anything. She would often shut herself in her room on her days off. He also finds it unusual when she doesn’t wear a bra, completely oblivious to the fact that she can be hypersensitive. 

Until one night, he finds her standing in front of the fridge, motionless.

It is the first time Mr. Cheong had gone to work without his wife handing him his things and seeing him off. Because of this, he goes home earlier than usual only to find their fridge close to empty. Only ingredients for miso soup are left.

Read more: https://tribune.net.ph/2025/03/14/hallyu-katribu-the-vegetarian-by-han-kang-revolting-from-within