The novel is set in contemporary Korea with the action moving from the rural community of Chongup (where Mom and Father raised their children) to the bustling, crowded urban community of Seoul (to which those children have moved, and which is the narrative's primary setting). There are powerfully drawn contrasts between the two. Chongup is portrayed as more rural, less populated, less sophisticated, and more comfortable, while Seoul as portrayed as extremely urban, almost over-populated, very sophisticated, and quite uncomfortable - again crowded, but also noisy, busy, and most importantly impersonal.