I thought the problem was simple: there are too many books, and not enough time.

That feels obvious when you’re sitting in front of a growing pile, trying to decide what to pick up next. Every new translation feels like something you should be reading—especially now, when Korean literature is more visible than it has ever been.

But somewhere between stacking, sorting, and pretending I had a system, I realised the problem might not be time at all.

It is choice.

I do not have a structured way of reading. I do not work through lists or follow strict recommendations. I buy books, open them, and see what holds me beyond the first few pages. Sometimes that works. Sometimes it means I circle the same pile without finishing anything.

And maybe that is the uncomfortable part of this.

There is more access than ever—more translations, more visibility, more conversation. But access does not automatically lead to depth. It can just as easily lead to overload.

The question is no longer “Can I read all of this?”

It is:

What am I actually choosing to sit with—and why?