HYEON-SEOK BANG, born in Ulsan, Gyeongsangnam-do province, Korea in 1961, began his literary life with the publication of his first novel, Naedinneun cheot baleun (The First Step Forward). His writings demonstrate his strong determination and sound recognition of the working class struggle. In his works, he tries to create an optimism for tomorrow rather than revert, as other writers do, to a conventional schematic plot with a happy ending resulting foom a comfortable portrayal of reality. He has a collection of novels under the title Naeil-eul yeoneun jip (House for Tomorrow), which includes his !rst work and many other works persuasively represent his revolutionary optimism.
Bang is currently the president of Society of Young Writers for Understanding Vietnam, and he continues to devote much of his creative energy to exploring Vietnam’s troubled past.