VOL.93/2026.04

 

Writer Taesoo

Happiness, Found Despite It All

 

2026.01.05

 

It is easy to find research results claiming that Social Media lowers people’s happiness. When we compare ourselves to others, even what we already have can start to feel small. And yet, there is someone who says that through the very same Social Media, happiness can be surprisingly ordinary?and therefore easier to notice. Rather than chasing grand success, writer Taesoo lives by his own standards of satisfaction. Even when life is difficult, he speaks of a life that remains happy nonetheless. Following is an interview with writer Taesoo.

 

 

It’s an honor to have you with us on K-Book Trends. Please say hello to our readers along with a brief introduction of yourself.

 

Hello. I’m Taesoo, a writer who writes about ordinary moments in life. Somehow along the way, I came to write 1cm Diving (FIKA), Home In Home (PIKA), and most recently, Adult Happiness is Quiet (Page 2 Books). Still, a life of writing feels less familiar to me than an ordinary office job, so being part of an interview like this is no small source of awkwardness. Even so, for readers who have read my work?and for those who may come to it in the future?I will do my best to answer each question sincerely.

 

You actively share various kinds of content on Social Media and communicate with your readers there, and your username is quite distinctive. What does “bad workers” mean?

 

When I was just starting out in my career, working late was still considered a virtue. People who created more work for themselves were seen as talented, and even if you had finished your tasks, leaving the office on time received judgmental looks?as if you had nothing better to do. Regardless of actual ability, you were labeled a “bad worker.” There was a prevailing attitude that went something like, “Who would ever entrust important work to people who strictly protect their personal lives?”
At the same time, I felt both envy and admiration for people who managed to maintain a healthy work?life balance. Perhaps I had simply grown tired of a life spent sacrificing my body and time for the company. Gradually, the kind of worker who could protect their own life?even in the face of the company, that seemingly inviolable entity?became my ideal. In the end, I left my job after three years. Determined not to repeat the same mistake, I redefined for myself what kind of working life I wanted to lead: a wise worker who knows how to protect both work and life. Yes?that is what “bad workers” means to me. Hoping to become the kind of “bad worker” my seniors once warned against, and wishing that more people might become that kind of worker too, I created the Social Media account and began sharing my writing there.

 

You became a bestselling author after gaining widespread resonance on Social Media. We would like to know when and why you first started using it. What led you to begin posting the kind of writing you share today? And, why did you once delete all of your content?

 

I realized that there weren’t many people around me who enjoyed serious conversations. (Laughs) I was feeling quite low, and I wanted to open up and share my thoughts sincerely, but that felt difficult to do in offline spaces. So, I began pouring those feelings out online instead. To my surprise, far more people than I had expected deeply resonated with my writing. That eventually led to publishing books, and thanks to that, I now feel I’m living a life far richer than I deserve.
I delete my content periodically. Whenever I reread past posts and find writing that no longer sits right with me, or when my values have shifted significantly, I remove older pieces. Perhaps it is because I believe writing is one of the most powerful forms of content when it comes to influencing people’s hearts. I don’t want to present versions of myself that I no longer agree with in the form of words to others. That is why I regularly delete posts that no longer feel true to who I am. I don’t remember exactly when I deleted all of my content at once, but looking back, it was probably during a time when my values were undergoing a major change.

 

Writing pieces that resonate so deeply with readers seems to require both careful reflection and a wide range of experiences. Could you tell us about the process of how your writing takes shape? And when you turn your online writing into books, do you revise or edit the pieces in new ways?

 

When a particular experience leaves a strong impression on me, I make sure to write down the sentence that comes to mind in my notes app. That’s how the title of this book, Adult Happiness is Quiet, came about as well. It was a sentence that occurred to me on my way home from work, as I looked up at the sky before the sun had set. When such a sentence appears, sometimes I continue writing from there depending on how I feel, and other times I stop and leave it as it is. From experience, even if I leave a piece unfinished, encountering a similar moment later often causes the sentence to flash back into my mind. Perhaps recording emotions allows them to connect over time, even after a pause.
Once a piece comes together through this process, I post it on my personal Social Media. Then, as I read readers’ responses, I revisit the text?reflecting on what felt lacking or on thoughts I hadn’t been aware of at the time of writing?and revise it several times before including it in a book. In the end, the most important part of the process is imagining a single line that will linger in the reader’s mind. That may be why, when such a line comes to me, I’ll even wake up from sleep to open my notes app. Emotions that aren’t written down, no matter how intense, are easily forgotten.

 

 

Your author bio, “I just happened to write - I am not a writer,” certainly stands out. Why do you hesitate to call yourself a writer? Is there a title you would prefer to be known by?

 

I think something like “a scribbler” suits me better. Thanks to writers I deeply admire, I have been able to view many aspects of life more positively, and because of that, I don’t want to claim the title of “writer” lightly. Perhaps it is because I don’t believe my writing has had such a powerful impact on others?at least not yet.
That said, I don’t curse myself by thinking, “I will never become a writer.” I see myself simply as someone who is in the process of fulfilling a dream. I plan to keep writing consistently?pieces that might offer something meaningful to both my readers and myself. And, if I continue doing that, perhaps there will come a day when I’m introduced as a writer. Of course, even if that day never comes, I think that would be just fine too.

 

Your first book, 1cm Diving, published in 2020 with writer Mun-Jeong, sold over 200 thousand copies and was exported to five countries, including Japan and Taiwan. How did readers at home and abroad respond? Is there any particular feedback that has stayed with you?

 

I can’t recall the exact wording due to my bad memory, but one comment has stayed with me very deeply: “This is the first book I have ever read all the way through.” When I was writing 1cm Diving, my foremost goal was to create a book that people could read with enjoyment from beginning to end, so that response made me feel especially proud.
We often link reading to its usefulness?saying things like, “Reading books improves literacy,” or “Books help expand vocabulary and sharpen thinking.” But, to me, more than anything else, books should be enjoyable. That is why, now and in the future, I want to continue writing books that readers can truly enjoy reading all the way to the last page.

 

 

Your book, Home In Home, explores the idea of building a true home where the heart can rest. What does the place where your own heart rests look like?

 

It seems to change from time to time. Most of the time, my family is my home of the heart. But, on days when my wife and I have a big argument, the bathroom or my car becomes that place instead. (Laughs) Ever since our child was born, I no longer have my own room. Even so, these days, my family is still my perfect home.
I believe a home of the heart should be a place where you can be wholly “yourself.” For me, that place is wherever I am with my family. With them, I can show my weak and imperfect sides, and honestly admit the things that frighten me. I used to pride myself on believing that I could rely on no one but myself, so it still feels a little strange to depend on others this much. But, these days, my heart truly rests in my family’s embrace.

 

 

Your third book, Adult Happiness is Quiet, has remained near the top of the bestseller lists since its publication in November 2024. Why do you think this book has resonated with so many readers?

 

I think it is because people are seeking peace of mind. In the past, happiness was often associated with victory or achievement. But, as you know, victory never really ends. In what we call the age of centenarians, a life spent having to win for a full hundred years can feel quietly exhausting. In other words, people seem to have come to want a life where it is okay not to win.
When I think back, just a few years ago, the words that were most closely associated with happiness were things like excitement, grandeur, and brilliance. These days, however, words such as calm, stability, and comfort come to mind more often. Perhaps that is because people are beginning to feel that a peaceful day?one without any particular problems?is just as valuable as a day spent solving issues or achieving something tangible.

 

You speak about “happiness” across your three books. From your perspective, what does happiness look like in people’s lives?

 

I think the people who live the happiest lives are those whose standards of satisfaction are deeply personal. Someone who finds unexpected joy in a plate of chungmu gimbap (a type of gimbap made with only rice as the filler, served with tangy, spicy radish kimchi and seasoned spicy squid) bought from a street stall, or someone who carries the warmth of a weekend game of catch with their child through the entire week. These standards may not be universal, but for each individual, they are firm and clear. People like that seem to have a higher sense of happiness?because their happiness does not require validation from others.
There was a time when I looked at such lives cynically, thinking, “They just haven’t been through enough yet.” It is embarrassing to admit. How absurd it is to say that happiness is the goal of life, and then scoff at people who already seem happy. I have come to realize that only those with inner strength can hold on to their own standards of satisfaction. The life I consider truly happy is precisely the kind of life those people are living.

 

 

Someone with a firm, personal standard of satisfaction
seems to have a higher sense of happiness.

 

 

Are you currently working on a new book, or do you have any upcoming publications planned for international release? If so, could you please briefly introduce them to us?

 

Unfortunately, I feel as though I have already written everything I wanted to say. So, for now, I’m focused on replenishing my input. I read books, watch films, spend a lot of time talking with my family, travel, and work. I’m living an everyday life that’s somewhat removed from writing. And, I think that, as has always been the case, if I live like this for a while, stories I want to tell will naturally return.

 

Your remark that “happiness is a state in which unhappiness is absent” is particularly impressive. Could you share your plans for living a happy life, and your ultimate goals in life?

 

I want to live “a life of satisfaction, despite it all.” Even if I miss the subway on my way to work, trip over a stone while walking down the street, or fail to reach a goal I longed for, I still want to live a life where, nevertheless, I can come home to a good dinner, watch a movie with my favorite flavor of popcorn, buy a gift for someone I love?however embarrassing that may feel?and sing birthday songs to one another. I want to keep living that kind of life, again and again, for as long as I can.

 

 

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