Maktharon

Soohae Ahn is the author of Opening the Door to Maktharon. Born in Seoul, she studied Communications at the University of Pennsylvania and later pursued Business Journalism at Tsinghua University in China.

After getting married, she settled in Hong Kong, where she is raising her two children. During the COVID lockdown, she finally decided to begin the story she had long dreamed of writing — a fantasy adventure born from her lifelong love of imaginary worlds and epic journeys. That decision became the start of Opening the Door to Maktharon.

Completing the book was one of the proudest moments of her life. More than anything, she wanted to show her children that dreams don’t belong only to the young — that with courage, dedication, and heart, even a busy mother can bring a dream to life.

Writing, she believes, is not always glamorous, and it often demands quiet perseverance. But it is a journey that fills the heart in a way few other things can. The process of creating this story brought her deep joy and happiness — and she hopes her readers will feel that same sense of wonder when they step into the world of Maktharon.

From the Author

This story began with a simple question:

“If we could meet someone we lost just one more time, what would we say?”

Perhaps death is not only an ending, but another way for love to remain with us.

Through Suhoon and Ju-eun’s journey, I wanted to tell a story about friendship that holds up, courage that carries us forward, and love that never truly disappears.

I hope Maktharon becomes a source of comfort for some, courage for others, and a warm, unforgettable memory for many.

—Soohae Ahn