VOL.74/2024.09

 

[Into the Book ②]

Fly on a Witch’s Vacuum Cleaner: Witches’ Delivery

The Place from the Fantasy Novel: Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do

 

2023.09.04

 

 

 

“(...) It’s good that it’s Seongnam. It will be within the Bundang-gu area. Is there a large lake or something like that around here?”
Bora gulped, swallowing hard.
“Yes, two. Two reservoirs. The Bundang Reservoir is much bigger than the other.”
“Good,” said Yoon-Jung, starting the car.

 

 

The short-story collection Witches’ Delivery, which features hilarious and whimsical events revolving around witches and characters with superpowers, was published in 2020 by Safehouse Inc. as the fourth volume of its short novel series. While the story Witches’ Delivery, which has the same title as the collection, talks about somewhat offbeat and unrealistic subjects, its background settings are very close to the real world. The place where the characters live in the story is Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do. That’s why people often refer to the book as the “Seongnam fantasy.” You can actually visit the places that appear in the story, as those are where ordinary people go about their daily lives today. Set in Seongnam-si, one of Korea’s first-gen new towns and a hub for the IT and venture industries, Witches’ Delivery stimulates excitement with its surreal events. Recalling the scenes in the novel where the characters were flying around on vacuum cleaners, making deliveries, and sometimes fighting for survival, we headed to Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do.

 

* K-Book Trends Vol. 34 – Go to the interview with Safehouse Inc.

 

 

Great trails to walk as you recall the memory of “Demon Lord” Shin Hae-Chul

 

 

In the book Witches’ Delivery, witches and characters with superpowers appear as distinct characters. For example, Sunae High School is mentioned as the school that Kang Bora, an aspiring witch, goes to, along with the nearby Shin Hae-Chul Street. Shin Hae-Chul Street was organized after he passed away. Shin was called the “Demon Lord” for mesmerizing the public with his supernatural musical talent, almost like the witches or superhumans in the novel. The place where his studio used to be was formerly a quiet residential area, but it turned into a popular place for a light walk while recalling memories of Shin Hae-Chul.
While the street, which serves as a haven for people to take a rest from their busy urban life, is less than 200m long, it is a unique place to get a glimpse into his masterpieces and musical world as you can see his music studio. Take a slow walk while listening to Shin Hae-Chul’s music, and remember the Demon Lord by visiting his music studio, where you can discover more about his life with music. The music studio consists of a study where Shin Hae-Chul used to greet guests and read books, an exhibition room displaying his performance costumes and other personal items, and a recording studio with recording equipment and mastering tapes. As such, the street, along with Shin’s music studio, lets visitors understand Shin Hae-Chul’s music in a deeper way and fulfill their admiration for him, while enriching the cultural content of Seongnam City.

 

 

 

Arriving near the Bundang Reservoir, Yoon-Jung got out of the car and began to walk around.
(...) “Damn! I don’t think it’s here. They wouldn’t be foolish enough to set up a hideout in a place with a bungee jumping platform,
would they? Where is the other place?”
(...) “It’s Seohyeon Reservoir. But it’s really small, like Bundang Lake...”

 

 

A healing place in Seongnam, the eco-friendly city

 

Once you have filled your soul with Shin’s music, it is time to take a walk and breathe in nature. The area around Yuldong Park, an ecological space in Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, is full of greenery. In Witches’ Delivery, this is where Ahn Miri, the banished witch who tries to harm Kang Bora, the aspiring witch, and Soh Yoon-Jung, the witch in charge of the Seongnam area, have a face-off. With spaces for strolling and picnicking around the Bundang Reservoir (Bundang Lake), Yuldong Park is usually very crowded on nice days with people out to enjoy a peaceful time. There is a 45-meter-high bungee jumping platform on one side of the reservoir, a fountain, a 13-meter-high artificial rock wall, a badminton court, a children’s playground, a grassy plaza, and reed beds. It is truly a place where you can take a break from everyday life and heal.
In particular, there is a “Book-Themed Park” in Yuldong Park. The Book-Themed Park, with its architectural beauty, has a unique charm as it offers the pleasure of reading books in the park. Reading a book while enjoying nature multiplies the joy of reading. While Seohyeon Reservoir, located at the entrance of Yuldong Park, is relatively less known than Bundang Reservoir, it has a more tranquil atmosphere and is a great place for a contemplative walk. Since fewer people walk here, nature is better preserved, and you will be able to breathe in the vital energy of nature. Yuldong Park is so serene that you can hardly imagine the witches having a duel, just like they are described in the book. It is a great place to enjoy the peacefulness of everyday life or to immerse yourself in a new cityscape.

 

 

Korea’s Silicon Valley, where drones and AI fly around instead of witches and superhumans

 

Botdeul Park and Techno Valley in Pangyo are among the places mentioned in Witches’ Delivery as the witches fly through the skies, making their deliveries. It’s only a quick glance, but Kang Bora, the aspiring witch, had a good look at the area that holds the future of Korean industries.
The Pangyo Techno Valley is referred to as Silicon Valley in Korea, as it is densely packed with IT and venture companies that are leading the way for future industries. The Pangyo Techno Valley has been playing a pivotal role in Korea’s industries and economy, fiercely creating future values just like how some say, “Lights in the Pangyo Techno Valley never go off.” While the Pangyo Techno Valley lives up to its name with a stylish, future-oriented vibe, it becomes even more meaningful when you think of it as a place that nurtures Korea’s technological prowess to compete with the rest of the world, rather than just having a tourist’s viewpoint towards it.

 

 

Just sitting in front of a computer working hard at a high-tech company isn’t enough to produce excellent output. They also need a work-life balance. Here, Botdeul Park, which serves as a resting spot for Pangyo Techno Valley workers and local residents, is a small park in the middle of a hillside, but its forest is deep enough for a short walk. With a few pavilions and benches placed throughout the park, there’s no better place to take a break from work or just clear your thoughts.

 

 

The joys of traveling in daily life can be more fantastic than fiction. This is why it will be so much more exciting to travel through places that appear in Witches’ Delivery, which incorporates real-life places into a story to create a sense of both reality and imagination. It’s another of the fun things about fiction. With Witches’ Delivery in one hand, let’s take a trip to Seongnam-si - a city on the outskirts of Seoul with good transportation. You never know, among the many people walking the streets, there might be a witch who is a little different from the rest of us.

 

 

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Written by Kim Young-Ihm