If One Day We Look at the Same Star
In‑pyo Cha
2009; 2021
The novel, originally published in 2009 as Goodbye Hill and republished under its current title in 2021, follows Suni—a teenage girl from a mountain village at the foot of Baekdu—whose life is forever altered amid the turmoil of the 1930s Japanese occupation. Suni lives in the rural "Tiger Village" and bonds with Yong‑i, a young tiger hunter determined to avenge his family. Their innocent friendship and budding faith are disrupted when Suni is taken away and eventually discovered decades later on a remote Philippine island, having experienced the horrors of being a “comfort woman.” The story spans from her youthful days in the village to her later rediscovery, weaving personal histories into broader historical trauma.
Cha In‑pyo spent ten years crafting this lyrical, emotionally rich novel, marked by vivid landscape details and the complexity of his characters’ inner worlds. Through Suni’s journey—from childhood hope to profound suffering and eventual rediscovery—the book explores themes of intergenerational trauma, resilience, forgiveness, and reconciliation. It emphasizes the importance of empathy and bearing witness, as reflected in Cha’s intention to carry forward the voices of “grandmothers and grandfathers” who endured Japan’s colonial era. The work has gained international recognition, even being selected as required reading in Oxford’s Korean Studies program.
About the Author:
Cha In-pyo is a South Korean actor, writer, and former corporate professional who made a name for himself through his roles in iconic Korean dramas and films. He earned a degree in economics from Rutgers University before pursuing his longtime dream of acting. He debuted in 1993 and rose to fame with the 1997 series Star in My Heart, a foundational work in the Korean Wave. His acting career includes critically recognized films such as Crossing and global projects like Seoul Searching. Known for his dedication to social issues and storytelling, Cha brings a humanistic and emotionally rich lens to his creative work.