The text reads: “‘These damned difficulties will eventually pile up to become a festival’… it gives a moving sense of emotion.”

The article discusses former President Moon Jae-in’s recommendation of a book titled “This Damn Life Will Pile Up and Become a Festival” on social media. Moon Jae-in describes the book as one that reflects the cruel yet beautiful nature of the world and notes his enjoyment of autobiographical essays or memoirs that resonate with his own life’s challenges. The book is an autobiographical essay by Jo Seung-ri, a visually impaired writer who started losing her sight at 15. Moon admires Jo’s mental fortitude in writing about her difficult life so stoically and wonders about the tears she must have shed to reach such composure. He recounts Jo’s determination to read as many books as possible before losing her sight completely, going to the library instead of school and enduring her mother’s scolding for her bloodshot eyes. Moon encourages Jo, acknowledging the power of her will and reading habits in shaping her as a writer, and expresses his support for her future work. Additionally, on the same day, photos of Moon planting barley, a winter crop, were shared on the Pyeongsan Bookstore’s social media.