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Wolves
“Written in a beautifully rendered, nuanced language, Wolves is a window into a little-known world.”
—Krys Lee - Author of How I Became a North Korean
Sungtae’s short stories build a unique world through their consummate construction and firm roots in reality. With Mongolia as the physical background and through the perspectives of outsiders, Jeon’s imaginative tales mercilessly expose the hypocrisy and duality that lie within all of us. The stories address important issues including North-South Korean relations, migrant workers, capitalism in an era of neo-liberalism, and racially mixed families.
Sora Kim-Russell, a Korean-American poet and translator originally from California, now lives and works in Seoul, South Korea.
—Krys Lee - Author of How I Became a North Korean
Sungtae’s short stories build a unique world through their consummate construction and firm roots in reality. With Mongolia as the physical background and through the perspectives of outsiders, Jeon’s imaginative tales mercilessly expose the hypocrisy and duality that lie within all of us. The stories address important issues including North-South Korean relations, migrant workers, capitalism in an era of neo-liberalism, and racially mixed families.
Sora Kim-Russell, a Korean-American poet and translator originally from California, now lives and works in Seoul, South Korea.
- GenresShort StoriesAsia
220 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
1 person is currently reading
51 people want to read
About the author
Jeon Sungtae
9 books4 followers전성태 (Jeon Sungtae) was born in 1969 in South Korea. He studied creative writing at Chung-Ang University and started his career in 1994 by winning the Silcheonmunhak New Writer’s Award. His published works include the short-story collections Second Self-Portrait (2015), Wolves (2009), Over The Border (2004), and Burying Incense (1999); the novel The Female Barber (2005); and the book of essays Big Brothers of the World (2015).
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 9, 2025
Watch my review on YouTube here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROfZk...
Read my review on Substack here - https://open.substack.com/pub/barrywe...
Read my review on Substack here - https://open.substack.com/pub/barrywe...
November 9, 2022
All societies change over time. Sometimes people change with them, and sometimes change happens to people who are unable to make the change they want. If Wolves were set in another part of the world, the stories would look very different, but the essence would remain: what behavior do you expect from others and from yourself?
P(l)ain of loneliness
The stories in Wolves are reminiscent of a campfire setting. Jeon Sungtae is a good storyteller and knows how to captivate an audience. He sets the scene in such a way that you immediately feel the mood of those involved. The intensity of human suffering increases with each story until the climax in the story River Crossers.
The first story, The Magnolia, is a well-chosen opening story that takes you to a restaurant in Ulan Bator. It is a place where the two Koreas meet, and where politics and prejudice still get in the way of simply enjoying a meal and being grateful that such a restaurant can exist. This story is followed by the melancholic Wolves after which the book is named. The end of the nomadic lifestyle after the introduction of a capitalist economy is not what the small cast of characters with distinctive voices called for. Through this story, we get the same taste of nomadic life as those who go on the nomadic lifestyle-inspired management retreat mentioned in the story.
Life simmers away
The narrator in Korean Soldier could use such a retreat, as he feels the pressure to live up to his own identity. Fortunately, there are good people out there who offer a helping hand. Even when you think your good will is in vain, people can surprise you in a positive way with their morals and give you your brain’s equivalent of beautiful Chinese fireworks.
Sometimes society gets in the way of the change you want (Southern Plants) and at other times the question arises as to what keeps you from getting a second chance when society doesn’t get in the way (Second Waltz).
The last three stories are set in southern South Korea and have a different – simmering rather than acute suffering – atmosphere. They are set in the countryside and show what life was like for the elderly – in this case, someone with ties to North Korea (Has anyone seen my shoes), the poor (Kids need money too) and those who look different in a mostly homogeneous country (Imitayshun).
Recommendation
Wolves is worth reading because of author Jeon Sungtae’s good storytelling skills that have been preserved (or perhaps even improved) in the translation. The stories are about change that happens to you and change that you desire. For me, the stories are a reminder that you cannot understand someone’s motivations unless you know more about them. What constitutes good human behavior may be different for everyone.
The stories are not very memorable. But when I reread the one sentence story descriptions that I shared with you above, I am reminded of the takeaway I have from each story and the way I felt at a certain point in that story.
P(l)ain of loneliness
The stories in Wolves are reminiscent of a campfire setting. Jeon Sungtae is a good storyteller and knows how to captivate an audience. He sets the scene in such a way that you immediately feel the mood of those involved. The intensity of human suffering increases with each story until the climax in the story River Crossers.
The first story, The Magnolia, is a well-chosen opening story that takes you to a restaurant in Ulan Bator. It is a place where the two Koreas meet, and where politics and prejudice still get in the way of simply enjoying a meal and being grateful that such a restaurant can exist. This story is followed by the melancholic Wolves after which the book is named. The end of the nomadic lifestyle after the introduction of a capitalist economy is not what the small cast of characters with distinctive voices called for. Through this story, we get the same taste of nomadic life as those who go on the nomadic lifestyle-inspired management retreat mentioned in the story.
Life simmers away
The narrator in Korean Soldier could use such a retreat, as he feels the pressure to live up to his own identity. Fortunately, there are good people out there who offer a helping hand. Even when you think your good will is in vain, people can surprise you in a positive way with their morals and give you your brain’s equivalent of beautiful Chinese fireworks.
Sometimes society gets in the way of the change you want (Southern Plants) and at other times the question arises as to what keeps you from getting a second chance when society doesn’t get in the way (Second Waltz).
The last three stories are set in southern South Korea and have a different – simmering rather than acute suffering – atmosphere. They are set in the countryside and show what life was like for the elderly – in this case, someone with ties to North Korea (Has anyone seen my shoes), the poor (Kids need money too) and those who look different in a mostly homogeneous country (Imitayshun).
Recommendation
Wolves is worth reading because of author Jeon Sungtae’s good storytelling skills that have been preserved (or perhaps even improved) in the translation. The stories are about change that happens to you and change that you desire. For me, the stories are a reminder that you cannot understand someone’s motivations unless you know more about them. What constitutes good human behavior may be different for everyone.
The stories are not very memorable. But when I reread the one sentence story descriptions that I shared with you above, I am reminded of the takeaway I have from each story and the way I felt at a certain point in that story.
September 19, 2020
A collection of short stories. I enjoyed them for the most part. Interestingly almost all of them take place in Mongolia, with the Korean population there (Korean businessmen, North Korean refugees & immigrants). Got me interested in possibly reading some Mongolian fiction at some point.
Once again, since Goodreads doesn't give me enough space in the private notes section, I am writing my synopses in this public section for my notes. So, fair notice, MAJOR SPOILERS BELOW:
The Magnolia: It is the name of a North Korean restaurant in Ulaan Bataar. This same restaurant features in other stories. I liked this one. A new chef from North Korea is announced, and people love the food. But it turns out the chef never arrived.
Wolves: This was interesting, but too many characters and points of view for a short story, at least for me. I got lost. Like, why was the hunter obsessed with catching the black wolf? And why alive?
Southern plants. A South Korean who is not sure whether to help a Mongolian go to South Korea illegally. Also deals with some waitresses in the Magnolia. And the South Korean cheated on his wife, who left him and is back with their daughter in Seoul.
Korean soldier: Probably my favorite thus far. A Korean poet comes to Mongolia for 3 months. He gets mugged, almost get assaulted outside an internet cafe, and then gets locked out of his apartment. He then gets some rope from a construction site and is able to lower himself to his window.
Second waltz: I'm not sure I got this one. A poet is going to a town to look for a North Korean woman who is supposed to live in the mountains around there. A policeman asks for his papers, and when he can't produce them, tells him he can't leave the hotel. But it turns out the copy is in love with the lady acting as the poet's guide. They find where the old lady lived, but it sounds like she died.
Chinese Fireworks. This one is a touching story about homeless children in Mongolia asking for recyclables they can resell.
River Crossers: The first story not taking place in Mongolia. This is also probably the most depressing story. Every story I read about crossing from North Korea over the border involves the death of a child. I might skip these from now on.
Has anyone seen my shoes: This was quirky and sort of fun. An old man in an island off the coast of Jeolla-do still uses an ox when farming, so he's featured in the news once a year. But he's hungover and not sure why his shoes are missing and he has a different pair. They might belong to a friend of his, originally from NOrth Korea, who is a police officer. It turns out he might have drowned himself. I'm not sure I get the end though.
Kids need money too: Oddly enough, another story featuring shoes. These are running shoes. A kid is a good runner, so he has top of the line shoes and eats ox meat soup, paid for by his school principal. Anyway, the narrator finds money on the ground, buys the same shoes, but then borrows the money to return it, and has to pay off his debt. He and the other kid are helping with a chore, since they have the good shoes, and then..? Once again, not sure I got the ending.
Imitayshun: I liked this one. A Korean guy who looks like a 'hapa' (half korean, half foreigner) works at an English cram school in a newly built city. It recounts the crap he went through growing up looking different, and how he can reinvent himself here.
Once again, since Goodreads doesn't give me enough space in the private notes section, I am writing my synopses in this public section for my notes. So, fair notice, MAJOR SPOILERS BELOW:
The Magnolia: It is the name of a North Korean restaurant in Ulaan Bataar. This same restaurant features in other stories. I liked this one. A new chef from North Korea is announced, and people love the food. But it turns out the chef never arrived.
Wolves: This was interesting, but too many characters and points of view for a short story, at least for me. I got lost. Like, why was the hunter obsessed with catching the black wolf? And why alive?
Southern plants. A South Korean who is not sure whether to help a Mongolian go to South Korea illegally. Also deals with some waitresses in the Magnolia. And the South Korean cheated on his wife, who left him and is back with their daughter in Seoul.
Korean soldier: Probably my favorite thus far. A Korean poet comes to Mongolia for 3 months. He gets mugged, almost get assaulted outside an internet cafe, and then gets locked out of his apartment. He then gets some rope from a construction site and is able to lower himself to his window.
Second waltz: I'm not sure I got this one. A poet is going to a town to look for a North Korean woman who is supposed to live in the mountains around there. A policeman asks for his papers, and when he can't produce them, tells him he can't leave the hotel. But it turns out the copy is in love with the lady acting as the poet's guide. They find where the old lady lived, but it sounds like she died.
Chinese Fireworks. This one is a touching story about homeless children in Mongolia asking for recyclables they can resell.
River Crossers: The first story not taking place in Mongolia. This is also probably the most depressing story. Every story I read about crossing from North Korea over the border involves the death of a child. I might skip these from now on.
Has anyone seen my shoes: This was quirky and sort of fun. An old man in an island off the coast of Jeolla-do still uses an ox when farming, so he's featured in the news once a year. But he's hungover and not sure why his shoes are missing and he has a different pair. They might belong to a friend of his, originally from NOrth Korea, who is a police officer. It turns out he might have drowned himself. I'm not sure I get the end though.
Kids need money too: Oddly enough, another story featuring shoes. These are running shoes. A kid is a good runner, so he has top of the line shoes and eats ox meat soup, paid for by his school principal. Anyway, the narrator finds money on the ground, buys the same shoes, but then borrows the money to return it, and has to pay off his debt. He and the other kid are helping with a chore, since they have the good shoes, and then..? Once again, not sure I got the ending.
Imitayshun: I liked this one. A Korean guy who looks like a 'hapa' (half korean, half foreigner) works at an English cram school in a newly built city. It recounts the crap he went through growing up looking different, and how he can reinvent himself here.
January 25, 2019
One of my first translated reads of the year! Sora Kim-Russell did a really nice job on the translation. This was a simple book, full of characters and little lives, almost exclusively Korean expats or citizens, mostly in Mongolia or South Korean islands. It was simply constructed: sentences, scenes, plots (kill a big wolf! Get into your apartment! Repay your debt by selling frogs (ok?)!) but they were all very well executed looks at identity, travel, loss, and interpersonal relations under hard to understand authorities, from groundskeepers to school principals to American shelling. 8/10, I am glad I picked this up but not overwhelmed by its quality. My favorite piece was Korean Soldier, but the title piece was fantastic as always (thanks White Review).
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews