'Jie-won-won was born in a world bewitched by traditional boundaries. In early childhood, he realised, his shelter is his family, separated by a boundary from the rest of the world. He recognised boundaries between the rich and the poor, between men and women, between parents and children, between locals and foreigners, between upper and lower castes, between one country and another, between the illiterate and the educated, between the single and the married, between the young and the old and between the coward and the bold. He overcame most boundaries, till he was trapped into the boundary of marriage with Hye-jin.
'Jie-won shared his secrets with none. He found himself in a life of Pi; he needs to protect the tigress from drowning, at the same time he needs to be vigilant to protect himself and other relatives from the tigress.
'Jie-won moved to remote cities of his country, but Hye-Jin continued to remain aloof from him, either by taking leave from him for staying with parents, or by bringing her parents and/or siblings to their homes in the remote cities so that Jie-won’s home is transformed into his in-laws’ place.' (Publication summary)