The Disaster Tourist by Korean author Yun Ko-eun is a perfect blend between reality and imagination that questions our view on issues in society. A fun read about a topic that many people love: travel.
The Disaster Tourist synopsis
An eco-thriller with a fierce feminist sensibility, The Disaster Tourist engages with the global dialog around climate activism, dark tourism, and the #MeToo movement.
For ten years, Yona has been stuck behind a desk as a coordinator for Jungle, a travel company specializing in vacation packages to destinations devastated by disaster and climate change. Her work life is uneventful until trouble arises in the form of a predatory colleague.
To forestall any disruption of business-as-usual, Jungle makes Yona a proposition: a paid “vacation” to the desert island of Mui. But Yona must pose as a tourist and assess whether Jungle should continue their partnership with the unprofitable destination.
Yona travels to the remote island, whose major attraction is an underwhelming sinkhole, a huge disappointment to the customers who’ve paid a premium. Soon Yona discovers the resort’s plan to fabricate a catastrophe in the interest of regaining their good standing with Jungle–and the manager enlists Yona’s help. Yona must choose between the callous company to whom she’s dedicated her life, or the possibility of a fresh start in a powerful new position. As she begins to understand the cost of the manufactured disaster, Yona realizes that the lives of Mui’s citizens are in danger–and so is she.
In The Disaster Tourist, Korean author Yun Ko-eun grapples with the consequences of our fascination with disaster, and questions an individual’s culpability in the harm done by their industry.
Book review
The blurb made me feel like I was gonna read some over the top political statement book with a naggy female character. The first sentence has all the terms and even the MeToo hashtag in order to appeal to potential readers in the same way the travel agency Jungle tries to sell their disaster travel packages. It made me cringe and hesitate for a bit before I decided to pick it up and I was glad I did!
The Disaster Tourist is about Yona, a salary worker at a tourist agency that sells itineraries to disaster zones. She has a hard time at work, having to deal with sexual harassment from a higher-up so it seems like a blessing in disguise when she is sent on a vacation to evaluate one of the low-performing itineraries. After so many years Yona finally remembers that she works for a travel agency because she loves traveling, except she hardly ever does.
She travels to the island Mui in Vietnam and visits all the tourist traps including the desert sinkhole that is Mui’s disaster site. Her fellow travelers are on this trip for a learning experience. For them it is not about the beauty of the place but more about the ‘I’ve been there’ vibe that travel can bring: “Even though I came close to a disaster, I escaped unscathed: those were the selfish words of solace you told yourself after returning home.” When tourists flood a tourist destination they disrupt the lives of the locals, yet how does a tourist site return to ‘normal’ after it has been turned into one big theme park?
When Yona returns to the island for a second time she gets to experience the non-touristy side of Mui and that is when the real Mui shows itself. Just like Yona no longer turns a blind eye to what’s happening, I, as a reader, start to reflect on my travel experiences as well. I think the type of questions I ask myself will be different from what you will ask yourself, but in essence they come down to the following: are you responsible for what you cause indirectly and more travel-specific: are we destroying the popular tourist spots (the world) beyond repair for those living there? Which is worse, the disaster or the traveler?
“‘It’s too scary to visit disaster destinations close to home,’ Yona explained. ‘Don’t we need to be distanced somewhat from our ordinary lives – from the blankets we sleep under, and the bowls we eat from every day – in order to see the situation more objectively?'” If you turn a blind eye to what’s happening in your everyday life or at your workplace, then you might do the same elsewhere. At first, I thought the ending of the book was unsatisfactory because of some unsolved business that I can’t say more about as to not spoil anything, but gradually, as the actual ending unfolded itself, I came to appreciate it. Maybe Yona’s inability to take hold of her situation fits her character.
Yun Ko-eun crafted the story very skillfully. Her writing style is pleasant and her imagination keeps you entertained. The length of the novel is just right. You can read it as it is and take The Disaster Tourist as a light and fun novel, enjoying the exaggerations and turn of events while secretly wanting to travel to the described destinations. That’s one way to read this book. The other way is to reflect on the themes brought up in relation to your own travels and lifestyle. Do you bring joy or disaster to the places you visit? I felt somewhat chastised and after finishing this book I still don’t know if this was the author’s intention or not. It is also quite possible that she is mocking me for taking it seriously.Â
The Disaster Tourist by the Korean author Yun Ko-eun is a novel that feels light but is actually quite sophisticated. Yun delivers a perfect blend between reality and imagination and questions our view on issues in society using a topic we all love. Recommended!
Translated from Korean by Lizzie Buehler.
Interested?
You can pre-order your copy of The Disaster Tourist from Amazon. The kindle version will be out on July 2, 2020.
Many thanks to Serpent’s Tail and NetGalley for a digital ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
