Gu began his literary career in 1987 with the publication of his short story, "Madi" in the JoongAng Ilbo.
His literary style spans a wide spectrum, to the extent that no other Korean writer is as difficult to pin down as him.
[5] The short stories in his collection, Her Thin Cheeks, stand out for their allegorical or fantasy structures that question the meaning of creative writing and the literary institution.
The collection, Village Without a Can Opener, and the novel, An Unfamiliar Summer, address the emptiness of city life in an industrial society.
[6] Having been born in a country village with no electricity or radio, Gu Hyo-seo has said that he marvels at the fact that he lives in an era where the world can be seen at a glance through television and the internet.