Capitalists Must Starve

by Park Seolyeon, Djuna, Park Seolyeon

From the writer and translator duo of A Magical Girl Retires, a powerful historical novel about labour activism in Japanese-occupied Korea.

Set against the backdrop of Japanese-occupied Korea, Capitalists Must Starve follows a sharp-tongued, big-hearted heroine who dares to love, rebel, and carve out space for working-class women in a world determined to silence them. Echoing the unflinching narratives of Alias Grace and the sweeping historical vision of Pachinko, this feminist historical novel balances raw grit with unexpected tenderness and a defiant streak of dark humour.

A stirring portrait of resistance from fierce, funny, and full of fight.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Feminism, Historical, Asia, Asian Literature, Politics

202 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 14, 2025

About the author

Park Seolyeon (1989-) is a South Korean novelist. She made her literary debut in 2015 when her short story “Mikimauseu keulleob” (미키마우스 클럽 The Mickey Mouse Club) won the Silcheon Munhak New Writer’s Award. In 2018, she won the 23rd Hankyoreh Literature Award with the novel Chegongnyeo gangjuryong (체공녀 강주룡 Kang Juryong, the Woman in the Air). She uses love and the voices of the underprivileged, such as women, the elderly, and sexual minorities, who are excluded and hidden from society, as the subject of her works.

박서련(1989~)은 한국의 소설가다. 2015년 단편으로 신인상을 받으며 작품활동을 시작했다. 2018년 장편으로 제23회 한겨레문학상을 수상했다. 작가는 여성, 노인, 성소수자 등 배제되고 은폐되는 약자의 목소리를 사랑을 매개로 작품의 주제로 삼고 있다.

Reviews

[Owen Hatherley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A banger.

[Paul Fulcher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Factory owners capitulate!
Victory through workers’ unity!
If those who do not work must starve
Then capitalists must starve!

Capitalists Must Starve is Anton Hur's translation of 체공녀 강주룡 (2018) by 박서련 (Park Seolyeon), published by Tilted Axis Press, and is their entry for the 2026 Queen Mary Small Press Fiction Prize.

The same author/translator duo had previously published A Magical, a reimagination of the Magical Girl genre (no, me neither) for a world of violence against women, economic insecurity and climate change.

This is a change in tone - and publisher - political historical-fiction.

The novel is based on the real-life story of 강주룡 (Gang Juryong), a Korean independence and, later, workers-rights activist. In 1931, and aged 30, she led a strike at a rubber-factory, and the first-ever rooftop protest by a worker on the 을밀대 (Eulmildae) tower in what is now North Korea, and died one year later, weakened from hunger strikes.



And the novel follows what is known of her life and her activism.

Now Anton Hur is an accomplished, the prize-recognised, translator as well as a novelist in his own right in English, so I think this must be a deliberate, stylistic decision, perhaps to match the era ... but it's hard not to comment on the stilted nature of the prose (and not just in direct speech):

“If I hadn’t insisted on following you into the movement, what mission could I have accomplished? So my accomplishment is also my husband’s, isn’t it?”
Not what she wanted to say at all, but not untrue, either.

She has no desire to take sole credit and let her name be known throughout the land. Just like Jeonbin had once said, the reason she wants liberation is for the happiness of the one she married.
She loves him and wants him to live in a liberated country.

주룡은 공을 독차지하고 이름을 떨치고 싶은 마음이 없다. 전빈이 언젠가 했던 말처럼 주룡이 독립을 원하는 것은 제 임자 때문이다.
당신이 좋아서, 당신이 독립된 나라에 살기를 바라는 마음.

Which makes for an interesting, but rather dry, and at times awkward, read.

As a positive, 주룡, who name is often abbrievated by comrades to 룡 (ryong, which could denote dragon) is a well crafted character - she stumbles into independence activism out of loyalty to her younger husband, but, as the quote above suggests, soon surpasses him, and someone who is driven by loyalty to her comrades and colleagues and, above all, determined to win and to change the status quo.

This is the October 2025 book from the brilliant Republic of Consciousness Book of the Month club, which raises funds that support the UKs most exciting annual book prize, as well as showcasing a collection of books from the vibrant small independent press scene.

The publisher - Tilted Axis Press

Tilted Axis Press is an independent publisher of contemporary literature by the Global Majority, translated into or written in a variety of Englishes.

Founded in 2015, our practice is an ongoing exploration into alternatives - to the hierarchisation of certain languages and forms of translation, and the monoculture of globalisation.

강주룡 historical speech from the rooftop
(+ ChatGPT's translation, where I asked it to preserve a fiery, archaic tone)

우리는 49명 우리 파업단의 賃金減下(임금감하)를 크게 여기지는 않습니다. 이것이 결국은 平壤(평양)의 2,300명 고무직공의 賃金減下(임금감하)의 원인이 될 것임으로 우리는 죽기로써 반대하랴는 것입니다. (…) 나는 平元(평원) 고무 사장이 이 앞에 와서 賃金減下(임금감하)의 선언을 취소하기까지는 결코 내려가지 않겟습니다. 끗까지 賃金減下(임금감하)를 취소치 않으면 나는 (…) 노동대중을 대표해 죽음을 명예로 알 뿐입니다. 그러하고 여러분, 구타여 나를 여기서 (집웅) 강제로 끄러내릴 생각은 마십시오, 누구든지 이 집웅 우에 사닥다리를 대 놓기만 하면 나는 곳 떠러저 죽을 뿐입니다.

We, the forty-nine of this strike band, do not make much of our own wage cuts. Yet this, in the end, will be the cause of wage cuts for the 2,300 rubber workers of Pyongyang — and so we oppose it unto death. (…) I shall never come down until the president of Pyeongwon Rubber stands before me and withdraws his declaration of wage cuts. If to the last they refuse to withdraw it, then (…) as the representative of the working masses, I shall count death as my only honor.
And hear me, comrades — do not think to beat me or drag me down by force. Should anyone dare set a ladder against this rooftop, I will cast myself down and meet death at once.

[jq · Rating 3 out of 5]

An extraordinary story hampered by a very poorly edited English translation - typos, inconsistent spellings, grammar issues on every page that made the prose basically unreadable on top of just being clunky - not to mention they've accidentally put "Seolyeon" on the upper right hand side of every page instead of "Park", which is baffling for a press like Tilted Axis. I have no choice but to assume that they accidentally typeset the first draft translation instead of the final version and then it was just too late to reprint everything. Please god do something to save independent publishing.

[Amy ☁️ (tinycl0ud) · Rating 5 out of 5]

"No matter how weak and vulnerable a beast, they will still find a way to survive."

This is based on a real woman, Kang Juryong, who lived and died in the early 1900s after becoming martyred for the labour movement. She was a pioneer in many senses of the word, and although this book is fiction, I felt that this reimagining really brought her to life and made me curious about her story. She was more than a historical figure; she was also a person with a mother who loved her, a husband she fought for, and a community she was willing to die for. She was poor, uneducated, a working-class farmhand, born into an extremely misogynistic society during an extremely misogynistic era, and yet she resisted.

Another thing that I really liked about this book is its depiction of other women from that era and class. What Juryong faced was not isolated by systemic. The intersection between class, gender, and politics is made clear through emotionally charged scenes of ordinary women struggling to make it through the months when quite literally everything around them—their husbands, employers, and country's colonisers—threatens their survival in a very real and imminent way. It was inspiring to read about these women banding together, risking life and limb for a greater cause, in spite of being so downtrodden.

Similar reads:
- 'A Woman of Pleasure' by Kiyoko Murata
- 'Flowers of Fire' by Hawon Jung
- 'Delicious Hunger' by Hai Fan

[Jordon Barker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Factory owners capitulate!
Victory through worker’s unity!
If those who do not work must starve
Then capitalists must starve!

Banger book, that is all

[Teguh · Rating 5 out of 5]

"We have done nothing wrong, and the factory owner here has no clout. ... The police were deployed to intimidate us, but they have no excuse to arrest us, that's what."

Kang Juryong! Aku mencintai kisahmu ini!
Benar sosok dia mengingatkan saya pada Marsinah Indonesia.
Kalau kalian ada budget beli buku, kalian harus beli ini.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

fuck capitalism till the day i die!!! honestly park seolyeon is kinda… onto something with her writing. this and a magical girl retires really hit on hard subjects in fun ways

[jagna · Rating 5 out of 5]

if those who do not work must starve then capitalists must starve

[yujin]

i'm thoroughly obsessed with park seolyeon! her ability to write characters who are going through the most bizarre (magical girl series) or historic, high-stakes (capitalists must starve) events who also feel so real -- like you've met them sometime somewhere -- is incredible. she isn't trying to write a manifesto or "novel" that's just thinly veiled theory but manages to lay out capitalism as it is, which comes down to how it preys on people, puts them into a corner that feels inescapable, yet demands that you keep living through all of it.

that being said, i wish she would write longer books. i really didn't mind how short the two magical girl books were (even though i'm really hoping she's working on more books for the series 🤞🏻) but i do think it takes away from the story for this book.

"capitalists must starve" is about kang ju-ryong, who is the first korean woman to do a 고공농성 which is when you occupy a space really high up until your demands are met (not sure what the english term is). i did some very short research and found out that most of the characters and what happens is based on real historic events, but park took the liberty to add meat and character to the story. as one of the reviews attached in the book says, she does a good job of balancing research and imagination.

there is a lot of ground to cover in the book. i won't spoil anything (i think you should read it!), but it follows the main character through major life events, several moves across the country, and career changes. i loved how naturally the writing incorporated the northern dialect and speech from the early 1900s, and feel a little sad that that will not be as present/obvious in translation. like wow, it was so good that it felt effortless but i know how much research that must've taken.

i think the book would've benefited a lot by some more pages dedicated to character and world building. taking a moment to describe the space the character is in, the atmosphere, just a general vibe would've complimented the writing a lot and helped with the pacing imo. this is why i would say the short length is the biggest "flaw" of the book -- i would love to see future works from the author that takes more time. i get that witty and snappy is kind of her style, but for me this was a story that deserved a build up that pushes the reader to sit through slow tension and complex relationships.

overall, such a fun read, and i'm happy i have more park seolyeon books to read

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

A striking title for a novel that drew my attention when I saw it in a bookshop. Only on page 149 do we find the context. Striking workers have turned round one of the factory owners' slogans 'If you don't work you won't eat'. On their banner it reads 'if those who do not work must starve, then capitalists must starve'.
Very fortunate to have read the book in time to attend an event in Manchester with the author and translator.
Not many novels of historical fiction in the setting of a strike and for me stands alongside Sembene Ousmane's 'Gods Bits of Wood' and James Plunkett's 'Strumpet City'.

[Meghan McClendon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was heartbreaking, intense, and inspiring. The protagonist is the epitome of feminist rage and determination. It was an eye opening experience to really see the cultural aspects of the protagonist and understand how those practices shaped her.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I basically read it in one sitting. It's a fictional account of a real activist from 1930 Korea. The writing is excellent and the protagonist is engaging. Highly recommend

[Tatianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good short book about how one can be brought into activism through the right messaging and motivation

[Emma Maclean]

long live the unions !

[Sunny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Korean historical fiction started from a small new clipping from the late Japanese occupation period. Enjoyed a unique part of Korean history and story of a strong woman.
The prologue is short but contains powerful image, the image was in my head while reading half of the book.

" 주룡은 나무를 떠올린다. 손을 넣어 만져볼 수 있다면, 우선 식도를 지나갈 때 죽은 나무의 좁은 옹이 구멍을 억지로 비집고 들어가는 듯한 통증을 느낄 것이고, 내장들은 손이 스치는 대로 낙엽처럼 바스러질 것이다. 그대로 뒷구멍까지 손을 밀어 넣어 뽑고 어깨를 구겨 넣고, 머리도, 나머지 한 팔도 넣으면...... 배가 부르겠지. 나는 뒤집히겠지. 그런 상상을 하는 주룡의 얼굴에 희박한 웃음이 돈다. 나를 삼켜서 뒤집어진 나는 또 배가 비겠지."

"여러분은 자기 부인이 자기와 같은 사상을 가졌으리라구 보신네까?
손을 든 사람끼리 서로 마주 본다. 난데없이 나타난 여자가 뜻 모를 물음을 연거푸 던지는 것이 썩 유쾌하진 않은 것이 분명하다. 달헌만은 싱글싱글 웃고 있다.
자료지를 보고 문득 궁금해진 것을 물어본 것이니 마음 쓰지들 마시라요. 실례했습네다. 한데 생각해 것보담두 대답들이 시원찮습네다. 비록 짧은 생각이지마는 내래 여러분의 배우자들은 여러분과 같은 사상을 가졌으리라구 생각하지 않습네다. 해가 저문 시방 이 시각에 여러분은 이 자리에 있구 그네들은 가정을 지키고 있는 탓입네다. 내처 한마디 덧붙이자면 여러분은 그네들의 사상이 어떤지 궁금해본 적두 없을 거입네다."

[Lizzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating novel full of heart and unexpected humor. I love historical fiction, so I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Kang Juryong's life & activism. If you enjoy reading/learning about labor movements or feminist literature then I'd absolutely recommend this: it's a unique perspective from a place and time often overlooked by mainstream media (at least in the West).

We follow our main character through an unlikely marriage and the many struggles of daily life in Japanese-occupied Korea. The heart of Juryong's story is resistance, which takes on many forms over the course of her life. She endures hardships to appease her parents, her in-laws, and even joins the resistance to encourage the dreams of her husband. However, it is when Juryong embarks on her own rebellion that she finds her true purpose.

Overall, the writing is magnetic and-in my opinion-only hampered a few times by translation. There were a few lines that read a little strange to me, but it was not enough to break my immersion. Though it was a quick read, I felt there was a lot to explore and enjoy! Juryong's fighting spirit and determination reminds us all to know our worth and strength in solidarity. Very glad I picked this up during the Barnes & Noble sale.

[Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up in a local bookstore after its stark red cover and title caught my attention. It turned out to be a somewhat strange book. Park’s 2018 novel is set in Japanese-occupied 1930’s Korea and follows the life of a feminist labor activist. At times, I found the pace of the book confusing, in large part because the two equal sections of the book seem so starkly separated in theme. The first half of the book follows the protagonist’s domestic life, navigating family and marriage dynamics in a Korea that valued women for little besides child rearing and domestic labor. The second half of the book, by contrast, develops the story and themes that give the book its name, focusing on the character’s time as a factory worker and labor organizer.

I read other reviews raising possible issues with the translation of Park’s writing, which may explain some of the stodgy internal dialogue. All in all, I found the book interesting, with several emotionally resonant moments. But ultimately, I found it somewhat average.

[Valerie Ang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sharing a quote from the book that I enjoyed below:

"Education did not always make someone a better person, and a lack of it didn't mean someone was bad, either. And she (FMC Juryong) didn't want to be judged in that same way herself"

The book's premise (being set in PyeongYang) was really intriguing, especially since most south korea authors focus on historical events that occured within south korea given that its role in impacting them one way or another. it's also enriching to delve into the gender roles at that time, and under Japanese colonisation, and how this shapes different areas of society. The book pays tribute to women who fiercely fought for rights and helped paved the way for korea's liberalisation and the demand for better working conditions, stories that hopefully will continue to be told in the long run.

[Georgie Morley · Rating 4 out of 5]

3/4 - the writing styles wasn’t 100% to my taste but i finished it in 24 hours so certainly compelling with some intriguing characters.

such an interesting story - also inspires a sense of disbelief and awe for people who are willing to die for a cause. perhaps especially pertinent now; losing my job or friends for a cause seems too daunting and there are people who lay down their lives.
also terrifying how quickly aaron bushnell is forgotten - people die in horrific ways for a cause, and nothing changed.

[Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

J’étais hyper contente de tomber sur un livre avec un titre audacieux comme celui-là. La comparaison à Pachinko sur la quatrième de couverture m’a convaincue de l’acheter. Les premiers chapitres sont forts, quoique la traduction semble, selon les avis que je vois ici, de piètre qualité. La seconde partie n’a pas pu me garder en haleine. J’ai trouvé la protagoniste naïve, bizarre, pas aussi hypnotisante que je l’aurais souhaité. Ça m’a pris un temps fou de le terminer, j’avais pas envie de continuer de le lire, mais je l’ai terminé, ce qui signifie qqch dans mon cas.

[Feyi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Capitalists Must Starve by Park Seolyeon is a slow burner and definitely takes some patience, especially since the translation isn’t the smoothest. That said, the storyline is eventually captivating. The themes around capitalism and inequality really land as the story unfolds. By the end, it’s hard not to love Kang Girl. Her determination, resilience, and genuine desire to make a difference make her a memorable character. What starts off as a challenging read ends up feeling rewarding. I’ll think of Kang girl for a while.

[Malia Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

A really beautiful and tragic story about love and resistance. I found the sections about the factory workers (especially Ginseng) to be very powerful and spine chilling when remembering that these conditions actually exist for some.

My main gripe with this book are the constant changes from 1st and 3rd person. I’m not sure if this was a style choice or a byproduct of the English translation, but i found it very choppy.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book to leave out on a table to spark conversation. Ha. If you loved Pachinko - the saga chronicling the struggles of a young Korean girl - you will enjoy this much shorter story. Similar time frame, you really like the humble hardworking character and cheer her on as she struggles for her own survival but also for the betterment of her community. Loosely based on the life of a Korean labor activist, the story really grabs you. The title comes from a worker's march song.

[Katelyn Briscoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy translated books and the ways that phrases I’d never think to string together make up the storyline. I loved Juryong’s character: a balance between fire and peace, despite being wronged by so many all her life. I felt like the title was really misleading, but the book was still very impactful with many sections that have a lasting resonance for me. If you like reflective, strong female lead books with a healthy pinch of class struggle, definitely give this book a try!

[Michael Daines · Rating 5 out of 5]

(4.5)

“Capitalists Must Starve” follows Juryong as she comes of age in Japanese-occupied Korea. The story starts in Gando, what is now China just across the border from Korea, and eventually lands in 1930s Pyongyang. She is married to a 15 year old in hopes by his parents that the marriage will prevent him from joining up with the anti-Japanese resistance in the mountains. Instead, Juryong ends up joining her husband in the fight.

This is great historical fiction. I enjoyed reading her transition from peasant to working class. Things in the last section of the book feel like they could have been fleshed out more, making this reader feel at times like I missed something. But other than that, my only other complaint is about the typography: Korean names should be hyphenated at the syllable boundary (“Ju-ryong”, not “Jury-ong”). Recommended.

[Christa Colony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took a while to pick up in terms of Juryong’s own political action, but I think the background was vital for describing what led her to that. However would have liked some more from Pyongyang.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cannot wait to hear the talk about this, it was so quick and so insightful and at points so sad but then I would be like 'wait why am I laughing?'

[Chengzhong Xiao · Rating 3 out of 5]

The books plot could have been quite interesting if not for the disappointing and erratic pacing. Add to that is a horrible translation and the experience is less than desirable

[Chadwick Lazarescu · Rating 4 out of 5]

love, sacrifice, resistance, revolution

inspiring!

[Hillary Ayala · Rating 3 out of 5]

“All she did was live from day to day. Staying alive was hard, but wonderful sometimes.”

Interesting read, I felt like it was pressured at the end. Excellent ending, though.