To survive in a zombie-ridden world “as a zombie.”

One day, zombies emerged. Could Sam-young—29 years old, currently job-searching, living apart from her own family, good at nothing—survive? Nope. Not a chance.

A year later, as zombies have horrible appearances but sane minds and perfectly fine communication skills, being a zombie now means just having an annoying condition to live with. A medication that suppresses the desire to bite is developed so that normal people and zombies can co-exist. But zombie-infected people, including Sam-young, are treated as 2nd-class citizens.

Being judged by people for even breathing, Sam-young’s only hope is to pass the Government Examination, a recruitment exam to aid infected people in their 20s and 30s, the core demographic groups most affected by the zombie disease. She wants to get the job and come out to her mom as a zombie with pride. So, she works part-time, studies, works out, and then works part-time, studies, works out some more. One day, on her way to get a medical check-up required for the exam application, she runs into Na-kwon, who bit her on the day of the Zombie Disaster. Hey, Na-kwon, how did you get cured? Na-kwon tells Sam-young that she can become a human again if she bites someone who smells only sweet to her. She wonders who that would be. But for now, she is in a hurry for the exam. As she barely passes each stage of the examination, Sam-young catches a serial blood-sucking killer zombie by accident.

“A zombie saves a resident from another zombie!”

The person of the month, Lee Sam-young! Having a book-signing event for the book she didn’t write, It’s Okay to be a Zombie, she becomes somewhat of a celebrity, getting cheers from everyone she meets. At the glamorous event, she is surrounded by the crowd. Then, sniff, sniff. She encounters someone who has an irresistibly sweet scent. But a news article breaks out about Sam-young that she has attacked a human in the past.

Sam-young, are you going to bite? Or did you already?

 

Watching a lot of zombie stories on the big screen and on television, I came to a deep understanding that I, being a slow runner with liberal arts background and no practical knowledge to distinguish poisonous mushrooms from edible ones, would have zero chances of surviving in a world swarming with zombies.

No, I may already fit into the definition of zombie since I am a lesser being who owns neither a house, a car, nor a great skill in this modern society where everyone is running fast into the future.

Sam-young, an average girl without any specific talent, is almost first in line to be attacked by the sudden appearance of zombies.

However, she leads everyday life by putting all her efforts. Through Sam-young’s story, I hope to share that it is meaningful enough to stay alive today - even if you are good at nothing, even if you have forgotten what you liked, and even if the unknown tomorrow is already looking dark.

Life is meaningful, with a persistent belief in the happiness that will come and with a heart that wishes to be with you.