Giaae Kwon’s I’LL LOVE YOU FOREVER blends memoir and cultural criticism to explore how the author’s love affair with K-pop has shaped her sense of self. Today, in a heartfelt letter to librarians Giaae Kwon reflects on the profound impact of libraries and their vital role in connecting people with the books they need, even in challenging times.
Dear Librarian,
Libraries have always been vital parts of communities, but their importance has become increasingly highlighted in our current times. I find you to be a brave, knowledgeable, passionate people, actively combatting book bans, providing access to resources, and getting books that people need (whether they know it or not) into their hands, and I commend so much of what you do.
I admit that, as I was writing I’LL LOVE YOU FOREVER last year, I struggled often with the question of usefulness. What use did a book on K-pop have in a world where so much is under threat? What was the purpose of these essays, and how could they help anyone? Did anyone need this book?
But, then, whenever I’d feel myself despairing, I would read about the tireless work you do, even when your work is underfunded and devalued by city administrations across the country. I would see how you put your livelihoods and, sometimes, your own lives on the line because you believe in the importance of the work you do, in the need to make sure people, especially vulnerable young people, have access to the books they need.
Your courage helped me push through the haze of my self-centered doubt as I wrote these essays in I’LL LOVE YOU FOREVER. The book is ostensibly about my life growing up with K-pop, going all the way back to the industry’s origins in the 1990s with H.O.T., the original idol group and my favorite boy band, but it’s also about how pop culture reflects us back to us, has deep personal impacts on our lives, and ties into the world at-large. At its heart, I’LL LOVE YOU FOREVER is about choosing to lean into love and joy, even during times in our lives when that may feel impossible, whether because of personal trauma, mental illness, or society’s gendered double standards.
Previous knowledge of K-pop isn’t necessary as the book is a primer into both the industry and the sociopolitical background that led to it. K-pop has become a part of the American zeitgeist but is still a fairly niche thing, and I hope this book provides some insight and context into an industry I love so much, a shiny, fantastical world that I know is a source of hope and happiness for so many around the globe.
Thank you so much for the important work you do.
Giaae Kwon
The owner of this website has made a commitment to accessibility and inclusion, please report any problems that you encounter using the contact form on this website. This site uses the WP ADA Compliance Check plugin to enhance accessibility.
