Stepping into COEX Mall, one might feel the weight of Kim Ji-young’s experiences pressing in from all sides. The sheer scale of the place, with its endless shops and throngs of people, mirrors the overwhelming societal pressures and expectations that stifle Ji-young throughout the novel. The noise and activity, the constant consumption and display, echo the relentless demands placed on women in South Korean society, leaving little room for individual identity or respite. A visitor, knowing Ji-young’s story, may find themselves acutely aware of the subtle, often unseen, biases embedded within this consumerist haven, the unspoken rules that govern women’s behavior and choices, and the isolating feeling of being lost in a crowd while simultaneously being hyper-visible and judged.