Aziz Nesin's 'You Can't Come and Go Like This'. Pulimsook

Writer Kim Gyuna, in the 301st installment of 'A World Like a Novel' serialized on Facebook, addressed the issue of 'freedom of speech,' which she herself has experienced and which we all face.

“The police chief, exhaling smoke from his cigarette, looked me over slowly.

- But I don’t understand what your crime is. You say you're not a thief, a pickpocket, a drug dealer, or a smuggler….

- I'm a writer.

There was a moment of silence.

- You're exiled, aren't you? That's it, isn't it?

- Yes.

As I was leaving the police station, the chief said to my back.

- I’m so glad I haven’t read many books. If I had, I would have gotten into trouble too.”

This passage is quoted by writer Kim Gyuna from Aziz Nesin's 'You Can't Come and Go Like This.' Knowing writer Kim Gyuna's situation, I was briefly confused, wondering if it was her own story.

How is it that the violence inflicted upon intellectuals, especially writers, has not changed at all from 70 years ago to today?

According to writer Kim Gyuna on the 11th, Aziz Nesin, a national writer of Turkey, was arrested by the police and exiled in 1947 for writing an article criticizing government policy. At the time, the Turkish government, which leaned towards the center-left, tried to silence the writer by applying the ambiguous standard of 'violating national interests.'

Writer Kim explains that the brief exchange between the police chief in exile and the narrator in the story "simultaneously depicts the tragedy and comedy that unfold when power attempts to control ideology and break the pen."

A Society That Silences Writers

On the 10th, I directly heard from writer Kim that she had appointed a new lawyer. The lawyer who had agreed to provide pro bono services withdrew due to personal reasons, so she has now formally contracted with a new one.

Power of Attorney (Criminal Case). Kim Gyuna's Facebook

As she left after signing the Power of Attorney agreement (Criminal Case), I told her, "I support you! Let's fight!" I added, "I am also a writer. If you back down, the nation's justice will regress."

To 'Kim Gyuna,' who was known as a writer, the new title of 'defendant' has been added. She will be called that in court hearings in April.

The case name is 'Violation of the Special Act on the May 18th Democratic Uprising, etc.' The case dates back to October 10, 2024.

Upon hearing the news of writer Han Kang's Nobel Prize in Literature, Kim Gyuna wrote on her Facebook: "I am ashamed of the historical distortions contained in the winning author's work, and of the trend of praising it without criticism."

However, she never imagined these words would cause such significant trouble.

"The next day, my name and picture were plastered across terrestrial television news and numerous media outlets. For daring not to celebrate the national festival, I instantly became a public enemy. That's when I first realized how influential I was."

Three days later, on October 13th, Kim Gyuna wrote again to counter the malicious comments and criticisms directed at her and her writing.

"As any educated citizen would know, 5.18 was an event where our young soldiers sacrificed their lives to suppress the armed rebellion of numerous patriotic individuals whose names cannot be disclosed and unknown elements, thereby protecting the nation and its people. At the time, it was called the Gwangju Incident, but it has somehow become a sacred cow under the name of the democratization movement. If the suppression had not succeeded, there would be no free South Korea today."

Then, a civic group filed a complaint against her.

Writer Kim stated, "I underwent police investigation and was indicted by the prosecution. While the defamation case against Han Kang was dismissed, I received a summary indictment of a 1 million won fine for violating the May 18th Special Act in August 2025. This meant I was guilty without needing a trial," she reflected on the events at the time.

"Should We Stand By While a Specific Group is Sanctified?"

Kim Gyuna asks:

"In a country where one has the freedom to shout 'Long live Kim Il-sung,' why is there no freedom to express opposing opinions about a historical event that a specific group has sanctified? How can a writer's deeply held belief about a part of history become grounds for criminal punishment?"

Unable to accept the 1 million won fine, Kim Gyuna requested a formal trial. And in early April, the first hearing will be held. As you know, lawyer's fees far exceed the 1 million won fine. There is a reason why she is risking a trial, even at a greater financial cost.

Writer Kim Gyuna says:

"An era where expression leads to trouble and silence brings peace is an unjust era. A society where one must be moderate in all things and cater to the whims of power to write safely is already a dead society.

Unless one is engaged in espionage, regardless of whether one is right-wing, left-wing, or centrist, and whether their opinion is right or wrong, the state should not have treated a writer this way. The law should not have. However, power freely abused its strength, and the law faithfully served as a handmaiden to the regime. As a result, the public has been domesticated by power like docile sheep."

As also reported by the Hankyoreh, the recently launched 'Association of Liberal Writers' also raised its voice through a statement, saying, "No power should attempt to control the world of literature and thought."

Writer Kim laments, "Freedom of expression is the foundation of a democratic society, and the freedom of creation and criticism is its core. However, our society today is like a 'clock running backward,' where one is labeled a thought criminal or political prisoner the moment they deviate from the answers set by power."

Kim Gyuna concluded her writing, expressing her hope that a minimum of common sense and justice remains in the South Korean courts:

"I thought. And I wrote. As a result, I stand before the court bearing the heavy title of defendant. What exactly is my alleged crime? Did I steal, use drugs, or harm someone? I have not broken even the most minor traffic law.

I merely wrote an interpretation of history that displeases someone. I may not be sent to a Siberian gulag, but I find myself having to prove the legitimacy of my thoughts in the cold space of a courtroom.

I am a writer who yearns for freedom in this dangerously shaking nation of South Korea, a writer who speaks of freedom. Perhaps that is my crime. If it is a crime, I will gladly bear that sin and stand before the court.

All I hope for is that a minimum of common sense and justice remains in the South Korean courts, and that the freedom of the pen does not bow before the blade of power."

Awaken, individuals!

Arise, free South Korea!

'Kim Gyuna's World Like a Novel' is serialized only on Facebook. The subscription fee is 'Gyujak Fighting 10,000 won.'

Shinhan Bank 110-072-537351 (Kim Gyuna)

◆ Writer Kim Gyuna

She debuted in 2006 with the short story 'My Man's Dream' and in 2007 with 'Knife,' both winners of the Busan Ilbo and Chosun Ilbo New Writer's Contests, respectively. She has published novels such as 'Trust Me' and 'Cherry Lemon Cocktail,' and recently released 'Reading the World Through Novels.'