Maktharon

The following questions come from a young reader living in Korea who kindly shared their thoughts and curiosity about the book.

Q1. Why did you write the book, Opening the Door to Maktharon?

1. Ever since I was young, I’ve dreamed of writing a book, especially a fantasy novel. My friends always told me that I was a good storyteller. As I grew older and life got busier, that dream became something vague I carried deep inside. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, when everything paused, I finally found the time to sit down and write what I’d always wanted to. Hong Kong’s strict lockdowns controlled every aspect of daily life, and staying home felt unbearably boring. With no prior experience or method (this was my first attempt at writing a novel) I simply started putting down whatever came to mind. I’d always wondered, what lies beyond death, so I began crafting a story from my imagination to explore that question. Life rarely goes as planned, right? This book, born unexpectedly during the pandemic, became both serendipitous and fateful way to quench a long-held thirst I’d carried for years.

Q2. Where did you get inspiration for the characters?

1. Not long after I got married, my mother-in-law passed away. Although my husband was already an adult by then, witnessing his enduring grief and longing for his mother inspired me to create the charter Suhoon. I often wondered: if my husband could meet his late mother just once more, how would he pour out all the emotions (yearnings and regrets) he’d kept buried inside? The character Ju-eun feels like a reflection of myself. I met my husband when I was just 19, and like Ju-eun, I imagine I would’ve willingly joined him on even the most dangerous and arduous journey, growing together over the years. The other characters were born purely from imagination. I wanted to paint a world where both good and evil exist, filled with diverse souls, just like our reality.

Q3. Who would you recommend this book to?

1. Personally, I hope those who’ve lost loved ones might find comfort in this book. As I wrote Opening the Door to Maktharon, my goal was to create something parents and children could read together. I wanted them to understand each other more deeply by connecting emotionally through the story. I aimed to portray the love between parents and children, the bonds of friendship, and kids overcoming hardships to grow stronger-though I’m not sure if I’ve captured that vision as I’d hoped.