Debut AAPI Stories: Jiyoung Han's 'Honey in the Wound'

In this episode of All of It on WNYC, host Alison Stewart interviews debut author Ji-young Han about her novel Honey in the Wound, released as part of AAPI Heritage Month coverage. The novel is a generational story inspired by the real-life experiences of Korean 'comfort women' during the Japanese occupation in the 1930s and 40s, a history Han only deeply learned about in college. She was moved to write after learning there were only a handful of survivors left, and she sought to honor their resilience through a narrative that spans multiple generations. The story blends historical trauma with magical realism, using elements like a tiger spirit and folklore to reflect Korea’s pre-colonial identity and the enduring spirit of its women. Han discusses her intentional choice to portray Young Ja, a complex and flawed protagonist, as a symbol of ordinary women who endured extraordinary suffering. She also shares how her writing process was driven by urgency and emotional necessity rather than formal training, resulting in a powerful, lyrical debut that centers resistance, joy, and intergenerational memory. The episode highlights the importance of storytelling as a form of justice and remembrance. Han reads a poignant passage from her novel depicting women organizing quiet acts of resistance—like smuggling anti-Japanese messages in baby wraps and tricking officials with poisoned rice cakes—while still finding moments of laughter and connection. These small rebellions underscore the theme that joy and resistance are not mutually exclusive. The interview concludes with Han reflecting on the profound satisfaction of writing, describing the creative process as both magical and deeply personal. The episode ends with a brief promotional segment for Maggie Smith’s poetry podcast, The Slowdown.