Hansol Jung Libri

What if I said I am not what you think you see? A southpaw boxer is on the verge of their pro debut when their wife signs the adoption papers for a Korean boy. The boy's original adoptive father was all set to hand him over to a new home... until he realizes the boy would have no “dad.” Caught in the middle, the child launches himself in a lone wolf's journey of finding a pack he can call his own. Wolf Play is a mischievous and affecting new play about the families we choose and unchoose. It is published in Methuen Drama's Lost Plays series, celebrating new plays that had productions postponed due to the Covid-19 outbreak and the global shutdown of theatre spaces.

Set against the backdrop of divided Korea, the narrative follows Nanhee, a defector from the North grappling with the loss of her family, and Minsung, a South Korean father abandoned by his loved ones. Their unexpected connection through the internet reveals a poignant exploration of modern aspirations and the complexities of intimacy amidst a chaotic world. "Wild Goose Dreams" delves into the emotional landscapes of longing and connection, highlighting the profound impact of separation and the search for belonging in a fractured society.

A chance encounter on the shores of Ka'anapali leads to an unexpected and intense connection between a thirty-two-year-old woman and a fifteen-year-old boy. Their week together unfolds amidst a backdrop of passion and surprise, challenging societal norms. As they navigate their feelings, the reality of their age difference looms over them, culminating in the girl's return to Akron, Ohio, leaving both to reflect on their brief but impactful relationship.

Set in Northern Uganda just before the millennium, the story follows the daughter of American missionaries and a local girl who secretly marry in a dark church. Their love is threatened by the encroaching war, forcing them to confront the deep-seated intolerance rooted in their cultures. The play delves into themes of violence, the consequences of conflict, and the complexities of human emotions, including hatred, forgiveness, and love, highlighting the resilience of the human spirit amidst turmoil.

This collection features Hansol Jung's unique marginalia, where she creatively doodles on the text of her plays, including "Wolf Play," "No More Sad Things," and "Wild Goose Dreams." The cover design is crafted by artist and designer Clint Ramos, adding a visual dimension to Jung's work. The interplay of text and illustration invites readers to engage with the plays in a fresh and interactive way.

Ana is a Korean American who travels to Seoul in 1975 to retrieve her recently deceased father's ashes. Luke is a young American soldier fighting in the jungles of Myanmar in 1944. Number Four is the name of a Korean comfort woman camping out on a bridge in Seoul in 1950, waiting for the return of the young American soldier who fathered her daughter. Three separate time periods collide in a small hotel room in Korea, mediated by a shape-shifting Jesus who first shows up as a bellboy. Among the Dead is a dark comedy about a family broken apart by betrayed promises, and finding each other again through SPAM, journals, and Jesus. Mostly Jesus.