A very unusual and bizarre story that discusses existential themes, with a magical realism plot and a very endearing and accessible style. 

• Originality factor: ★★★★★
• Magical realism vibe: ★★★★★
• Cosmic horror vibe: ★★★★☆
• Psychological factor: ★★★★★

The New Seoul Park Jelly Massacre is a Korean novella that has very original and unusual plot that is used to discuss existential themes and uses very different characters to do so. All these characters are intertwined in unexpected ways that ties up the story nicely, although it never becomes clear what exactly was going on. But don’t let that stop you from reading this wonderful intriguing book. 

It consists of 208 pages.

Plot

At a hot summers day in August little Yuji goes with her parents to the biggest amusement park of Korea the New Seoul park to have a great time. But her parents are always fighting although Yuji desperately tries to bring them together. When they are arguing again she goes exploring  to find a scary ride in the park but stumbles upon a man handing out free jelly. Jelly that will ensure that if she shares it with her parents they will never split up. When she comes back to find her parents they are gone. 

At the lost children center in the park she meets Jua who also got separated from her mom, but she acts very childish, unlike Yuji who is very grown-up. While all the children get picked up, both Yuji and Jua are left behind and decide to find their parents themselves. When Jua is reunited with her mother, they are so happy and Yuji remembers the jelly. Secretly she puts some jelly in their soft drinks and then something so stunning and shocking happens that Yuji could have never imagined. And it’s happening all over the park. 

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Short Review

We follow several people throughout that disastrous day. Yuji a little girl who got separated from her parents. Her parents are always fighting and Yuji is the glue that keeps them together, as long as she is being a good girl and grown-up. Then she meets Jua who is anything but grown-up and cries all the time. 

We follow Sajun who works at the park in the suit of the mascot Dream Teddy, who is always counting his money. He has a strange roommate who gets him involved in shady and dangerous games. We also follow a cat who tells her story about her life in the park and her life before the park and about the day of the incident and what followed after. Then we meet Da-ae who comes to the park with her boyfriend Jaeyun and her story is also been told. We learn the story about Jua’s mom. We then learn more about Yu Hyeongyeong who’s the director of a cleaning company and what she has to do with Sajun’s roommate. And finally we get to know a new being called Jelly who has to find her way through the world in a new form. 

All their lives are intertwined somehow and it leads them all to this particular day. Although it never becomes clear what exactly happened and why and who the strange man handing out free jelly was, where the jelly came from and why it did what it did, it’s all a big allegory for being abandoned, or being afraid to be abandoned. 

It’s also about change. People change, the word around us changes, the surroundings change all the time. And change can mean being abandoned. Being left alone. Being abandoned can mean at first by being separated from your parents, and eventually because they want a divorce. People leave and never come back, even when they say they will never leave you. It’s a sad theme throughout this whole story, and each person we get to know struggles with this issue. 

But there are also other themes, like greed and devotion to money, or even a higher power. Both can be something to hold on to, when you are struggling with life. 

Overall attachment to people, surroundings, money, an evil deity, all lead to destruction of the self and others. 

Although it’s a short book, it tells a lot of stories and these stories are very profound. The characters are very fleshed-out especially emotionally and take a deep dive into human emotions like fear, devotion, and their idea of what happiness is. 

It’s an intriguing, existential thrilling and emotional read, that makes you think but also makes you want to read it in one sitting. Don’t be disappointed that the ending doesn’t give you all the answers about what happened and why and how, because that’s not the point of the story. It’s about humanity with all it’s good and bad sides. 

The New Seoul Park Jelly Massacre is a wondrous read that lingers long after you have finished the last page. Don’t worry about the cat either. She will live a very long time after the book is finished.