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Hidden Heroes offers a rare and intimate glimpse into the lives of ordinary North Koreans through a collection of short stories by renowned DPRK authors. Spanning from the 1980s to the present, these works explore the theme of the “hidden hero,” a popular moniker in the DPRK to describe the average citizen who navigates the complexities of daily life with quiet dedication for their work and country.
The anthology is divided into three thematic sections—Identities, Communities, and Power—showcasing a diverse array of characters and settings. Readers will encounter factory managers juggling work and family responsibilities, neighbors bonding during friendly outings, university deans resisting corruption, and diasporic Koreans in Japan grappling with questions of belonging. Through these relatable human experiences, the stories challenge simplistic notions of North Korean society and reveal a more nuanced reality.
While elements of propaganda and state ideology are present, as is typical in all officially sanctioned DPRK literature, the focus in the text is rather on the personal struggles, relationships, and aspirations of the characters. By highlighting these universal themes, Hidden Heroes invites readers to look beyond geopolitical tensions and connect with the shared humanity of North Koreans. For anyone seeking to expand their understanding of this often-misunderstood country, this anthology provides an engaging and thought-provoking literary journey into the everyday lives of North Korean citizens.
“In this much-awaited anthology, two consummate experts on North Korean literature have put together ten engaging stories about ordinary people living under one of the most secretive regimes in the world. The unprecedented inclusion of women’s voices diversifies and disrupts the established understanding of the country and its literature. Accompanied by a knowledgeable introduction and much contextualizing information, these stories will make an excellent reading in classrooms and for personal interest.” —Sunyoung Park, Director, USC Korean Studies Institute, Associate Professor, EALC and Gender
and Sexuality Studies, University of Southern California, LA, USA
Translation Source; Introduction: (Re)presenting North Korean Fiction; IDENTITIES, The Key; A Day in the Life of a Female Manager; Face; COMMUNITIES, Neighbors; Hoping for Luck to Strike; Seventeen People’s Laughter; The Actor’s Last Class; POWER, Lifel; Spring Evening; The Life Expectancy Chart; Bibliography; Index