Books by Hyunju Lee
Hoochoo’s Fog Factory
Young Adult Fiction / Contemporary Fantasy / Korean Literature / Korean Fantasy
★Welcome to the Fog Factory in the Cave of Forgotten Things, where every conceivable fog—and even those thought impossible—comes to life! ★
Welcome to Hoochoo’s Fog Factory:
The place where the Lettitas gather ingredients for fog, Dokkaebi refine and prepare them, and Mountain Spirits, Ghosts, and Elemental Spirits come to visit. It’s a magical haven where all the forgotten things of the world converge.
Within a cave filled with forgotten things, there lies the Fog Factory, a place where all types of fog are made—both the ordinary and the extraordinary. From morning mist and mountain fog to the more unusual fog that brings good fortune, fog that causes uncontrollable laughter, and fog that wreaks havoc—this is where they all begin.
Our protagonist, Supia, embarks on a journey to find the Fog Factory when a mysterious fog blankets her village. As the fog lingers, the villagers begin to lose their vitality, falling into a strange lethargy. Even Supia's beloved grandmother succumbs to the fog's effects. Desperate to find a cure for her grandmother and her village, Supia sets out to uncover the secrets of the Fog Factory.
Inside the factory, where thick fog swirls and strange things abound, the extraordinary is commonplace. Stones speak, frogs hop about on two legs, and the factory’s workers include the Lettitas, quiet collectors who only carry objects of one specific colour, and Dokkaebi, mischievous goblins who can multiply themselves at will. The Lettitas gather ingredients, and the Dokkaebi refine them, preparing them for the factory’s mysterious machines. Each machine creates a different type of fog: the fog that causes mischief emerges from a machine with an awful stench, while the fog that brings fortune is produced in a shining, golden machine.
But the Fog Factory doesn't just create fog. Hidden within its mists are forgotten dreams, words left unsaid, and memories buried deep in the subconscious—waiting to be found. Amongst the swirling fog, Supia embarks on a journey to discover what is most precious and forgotten within herself.
As I revised the manuscript multiple times, I finally realised that this book is a story about 'dreams.' Perhaps this was an obvious realisation, as it has been a long-held aspiration of mine. For over a decade, I have dreamed of sharing the enchanting worlds and captivating characters that have existed solely in my imagination with the rest of the world. _From the author
In the book
Chapter 7, page 46
As Pia passed several fog machines, she learned that the one covered in charming decorations produced “fog for grandmothers and cats to take peaceful naps,” while the machine with a foul smell made “fog that causes trouble.” No two fog machines looked alike. Just by looking at the machine, Pia could roughly guess what type of fog it would create.
Chapter 10, page 71
Apart from the Lettita who spoke to Pia, there were four other Lettitas, each dressed in a single colour from head to toe. For example, the Lettita who snapped at Pia in a fit of irritation was dressed entirely in blue, from the pointed hat to the socks, shoes, and even the card in their hand. The Lettita dressed in yellow poured yellow tea from a yellow teapot into a yellow cup, while the one in orange was knitting with orange yarn. Two other Lettitas, dressed in green and brown, were playing a board game, with the game pieces matching their colours—green and brown.
Chapter 12, page 90
Pia had imagined that the Dokkaebi would be dressed in leather, carrying magical clubs, and have horns on their heads. But when she saw them in person, they weren’t much different from the people of Sunshine Village, except for their height. When Pia remarked that they looked just like humans, the guide explained that the Dokkaebi always appear in the form most familiar to the person looking at them.
Contents
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The Fog of Sunshine Village
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The Cave of Forgotten Things
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The Talking Stone
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The Fog Delivery Box
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The Boy in Black
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The Fog Factory
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The Fog Machines
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Forgotten Dreams
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The Search for Clues
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The Lettitas
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Uncle Mitch’s Secret
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The Big Clean-Up
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The Mystery
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The Terrifying Man
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Words Left Unsaid
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The God of Spring
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Hoochoo’s Performance
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The Magic of Fog
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The Magic of Fog
20. Afterimages
21.Uncle Mitch in Danger
22. Objects with Souls
23. The Fog That Sees Souls
24. Midnight Mayhem
25. Hoochoo’s Room
26. Hoochoo’s Absence
27. The Sound of Water
30. The Cosmic Space
31. The Culprit
32. The Necklace
33. Fading Dreams
34. Koma the Fog Hunter
35. Secrets of Fog Hunters
36. The Past Kept by the Crystal
37. The Two Connected Circles
38. Pia
39. The Apothecary
From the Author
The Miracle of Baram-gil 37:
The Guardian Tree and Messenger Birds
Middle Grade / Fantasy / Fiction
A Place That Exists Everywhere Yet Few Can Reach, Somewhere Between Hope and Despair
When the Relentless Wind Blows, a Magical World Unfolds
Step into a magical world where you can walk on air, sip cloud water, and witness plants growing from clouds. Welcome to Baram-gil 37—a mysterious realm filled with enchanting trees, beautiful birds, and golden acorns.
Join Maru, a clumsy rookie mail carrier, and Aga, an adventurous scout girl, on their thrilling journey to uncover the elusive Baram-gil 37. As they navigate this extraordinary landscape, blurring the lines between reality and magic, they rediscover long-forgotten joyful memories, much like a clear sky emerging after a storm.
Embark on a heartwarming adventure filled with miraculous moments, inviting readers to unearth the hidden fragments of joy within their own cherished memories.
Into a World Unveiled Only by the Wind
Maru, a novice mail carrier in a small village, Haemil, encounters difficulties from his very first day on the job. He can't locate the addresses for two letters—both marked "Baram-gil 37." Maru soon meets Aga, a girl who insists that her missing grandfather, who was on a plane that vanished and shocked the entire village, sent a letter from that address. The messenger crew at Post Office is busy preparing for the upcoming fierce winds known as Mujabi, leaving Maru and Aga to search for the address on their own.
Haemil has an old legend: the village’s guardian tree, Haemil, and its messenger bird disappeared long ago due to human greed. Since then, the village has been periodically struck by strong winds. After these winds, however, people's wishes are mysteriously fulfilled, or so the story goes. Maru, however, pays no attention to the tale.
Thanks to the help of Schneider, an elderly man living in the eastern forest, Maru and Aga discover the site of Baram-gil 37, which is now an empty lot. However, they are soon swept into the heart of Mujabi, the powerful wind.
When they wake up, they find themselves in a colourful cloud-filled world, where people walk on air and use clouds as land. It seems both like a bright sky and an illuminated universe. To Maru’s amazement, Aga’s grandfather, Guide, and the missing passengers of the plane are all there, along with the long-sought house at "Baram-gil 37."
Maru delivers Aga's letter to Guide and checks the red mailbox at the foot of a mysterious tree, hoping to find a way back home. While searching for an exit, Maru hugs the magical tree at Aga’s suggestion and is transported into its depths, where he recalls happy memories. Inside the tree, Maru encounters the messenger bird and a golden acorn, confirming the legend of Haemil is true.
Though Maru initially didn’t believe in magic or legends, he decides to stay behind in the cloud world, possibly facing destruction, to help others escape. He chooses to trust in the miracle of Haemil. What fate awaits the missing people, and how will Maru and Aga's choices shape their future?
In the book
Pages 40-41
"Or perhaps Mujabi is protecting Haemil. Luck often wears the mask of misfortune, just as gods sometimes wear the mask of demons. You must see beyond the mask to find the truth. I believe Mujabi reminds humans of their greed and the consequences that follow. It is through Mujabi that we learn to be humble before nature and the gods. It helps us avoid mistakes and resist greed. A brief hardship brings long-lasting peace. That's why we must be grateful for clear skies and help others, like you do..."
No matter how much Maru thought about it, he couldn't believe in either the legend or what Grandma said. The eerie feeling that Maru would definitely find that house, as if it were some prophecy, made me uneasy. That night, Maru dreamt a nightmare where he stood before a large tree, crying for his parents to come back.
Page 59
Maru screamed into the forest that he would find his parents, trying to cover his anxiety—what if those people were right, and his parents would never return? The fear of being truly left alone filled him with despair, but he clung to the hope that they would come back. At that moment, no one was there to hear him. He was completely alone. Looking at Aga’s flushed cheeks now, Maru could imagine what he would have wanted back then.
“Alright, let’s go.”
Pages 94-95
“Why don’t you write a letter too, Maru?”
“I don’t write letters. I prefer delivering other people’s letters.”
“Why?”
“I don’t have anyone to send a letter to. My parents passed away when I was young, and I’ve been alone ever since.”
Aga suddenly stood up and stared at Maru.
“I must’ve been talking nonsense. Sorry, I didn’t mean to get all serious. I just like seeing how excited and happy people get when they receive letters. It makes me happy too. Although, not everyone who gets a letter is always happy…”
“Then you really should write one. You’ll have to write to Mr Schneider, your post office friends, and even me and my grandpa! Your hands will hurt from writing so much. When you get replies, you'll feel both the joy of delivering letters and the happiness of receiving them.”
Something heavy formed in Maru’s chest, and the corners of his eyes started to feel warm. He quickly turned his head, hoping Aga wouldn’t notice.
Pages 120-121
“The address! It must’ve been because they didn’t know the correct address.”
“Huh? But the recipient’s address clearly says Baram-gil 24.”
“Maybe by then the grandson had already moved to a new house? If the address wasn’t accurate, the letter couldn’t be delivered. I’ll have to deliver it myself!”
Maru tightened his grip on the bundle of letters.
“Do you know the new address? How will you find out who the grandson is? All we have is the name ‘Ben’ without a last name. This letter was written over 80 years ago, so we don’t even know if he’s still alive. We’d have to ask around, just like when we found Mr Schneider…”
Aga’s eyes widened, unable to continue.
Maru quietly smiled at her.
“I thought the same thing. They said the house was badly damaged by the wind, which is why they moved. We need to return to Haemil.”
Maru rubbed the embossed initials “A.S.” on the corner of the notebook cover.
Pages 156-157
Aga hugged Maru tightly. The two of them stayed like that for a while.
Maru thought about what his mother used to say. He realized what missing piece of the puzzle he had lost all this time. After his parents passed, he had forgotten even the happy memories he had shared with them.
“I think it was my mom. She was the one who led me to Haemil, and she was the one who guided me to find the wooden box. She probably also helped me deliver the letters.”
“So, thanks to your mom, we met.”
Aga grinned, showing her teeth.
Maru agreed. Maybe the people around him were a kind of magic sent by his mom as well. He thought about the letter he had once held in front of the tree for so long, only to take it back again.
Contents
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Prologue: A Long, Long Time Ago
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A New Messenger
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The Search
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The Magic Acorn and Mujabi
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The Mysterious Letter
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Traces of Baram-gil 37
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The Guide Grandfather
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The Giant Tree and the Mailbox
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The Missing Airplane
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The Letter Thief
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The Adventure
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The Leather Notebook
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The Clue
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The Flight
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The Experiment
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The Memory
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The Decision
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The Boarding
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The Wish
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Hamill's Messenger
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The Magic
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Author’s Note: Bringing to Light the Story Within an Unsent Letter.