K-Book Trends - The Early Summer Sea, and I Read Absolutely Nothing

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Book Grocery The Early Summer Sea, and I Read Absolutely Nothing 2026.07 A Story from a Worker in Their 30s from Samseong-dong, Seoul Every summer, I make it a point to book a seaside lodging all by myself. This year, I requested an early vacation. And as always, I packed one or two books in my bag. This year was no different from the last. One half-read novel and another essay collection that had been sitting on my shelf for ages. This time, I told myself, I would definitely finish them. Yet, the moment I actually sat under the parasol and opened a book, the sound of the waves would reach my ears. The distant laughter of children playing echoed from afar. As the sun began to dip, the horizon would be dyed in shades of orange. Over and over, I found myself lifting my eyes from the pages. “I need to read.” I would mutter to myself, returning to the very first line. And then, I would look out at the waves again. In the end, I kept the exact same page open for all three days. I managed to read absolutely nothing. Paradoxically, however, on the bus ride back home, I felt a deep sense of complete rest that I hadn’t experienced in a very long time. Only then did I begin to wonder. Doing nothing at all, simply staring blankly at the ocean—could that, in fact, have been what I needed most of all? Recommended Book for This Story Weekdays are Part of Life, Too Kim Shin-ji, RH Korea, 2020 Weekdays are Part of Life, Too is an essay collection that gently reminds those enduring the workweek while waiting only for the weekend that this very moment is also a fully valid part of life. Instead of 100% perfection, author Kim Shin-ji suggests that a loose 80% is more than enough, sharing how to live through each day at one’s own pace without urgency. This book warmly comforts the mind trapped in the idea that one has only “rested properly” after finishing a whole book, or the pressure to “achieve” something even while on vacation. During those moments spent just staring blankly out at the ocean, you might, in fact, have already been resting beautifully. Perhaps the sea is not a place to be read, but a place to be emptied. Breaking free from the pressure to constantly do something and choosing to simply do nothing is also a beautiful piece of life. Just as crucial as the time we spend gripping onto our passing lives is the time we spend letting go, simply allowing it to flow. Submit Your Story Editor. Hannah Lee (The Contents Factory Co., Ltd. CEO) Designing 'More' Innovative Communication and Experiences Through Content 관리자 #WeekdaysArePartOfLifeToo #TheSea #Rest #Achievement #Pressure

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