She is best known for her 2016 novel Kim Ji-young, Born 1982, which has sold more than a million copies and is often credited with propelling a feminist movement in South Korea.
As a child, Nam-joo loved reading, but she didn't have money for books, and her local public libraries in the poor outskirts of Seoul where she lived were barely functioning.
[7][3] Its publication in 2016 coincided with South Korea's very own #MeToo Movement, prompting a feminist reckoning and an urgent nationwide debate about gender inequality.
[5][8] The book is inspired by her own life and experiences—after a decade of working, she left her career to raise her child for a period, then found it difficult to reenter the workforce.
[5] A film adaptation of Kim Ji-Young, Born 1982, featuring actress Jung Yu-mi in the titular role, was released in Korea in 2019 to critical acclaim.