Summary

Hong Yeong-pyo, a member of the secret service (called the Bowibu), is approached by his superior and informed that his son Kyeong-hun was seen cavorting with a “factory girl” called Kim Suk-i when he was supposed to be gathering flowers for the state (154). Kim Il-sung has recently died and there are altars all over the city for citizens to mourn and place flowers. Yeong-pyo recalls another instance of his son's misbehavior, which unfolds in Kyeong-hun's own words through a written confession.

Kyeong-hun had been a border guard, and his unit was preparing a show for a military arts festival. The director, unimpressed with the performance, told the actors about “'stage truth'” - the ability to lie convincingly so that the audience believes what is being said/acted out (157). Afterward, the unit is forced to do drills late into the night. Unable to express...