K-pop producer and playwright Na Sang-cheon takes his first step as a novelist with the publication of his first full-length novel, "A Wonderful Escape."
"A Wonderful Escape" will be officially published on April 22 through Originals, the publishing brand of KT Millie's library. To meet readers first, a preview serialization will begin on Millie's library's creative platform Milliroad starting April 6.
"A Wonderful Escape" is set on the 800 km Camino de Santiago in Spain and tells the journeys of four people, each carrying different stories.
The protagonists are middle-aged chef Kims, who lost his wife and began a new life as a cook; Dorothy, an aspiring singer-songwriter tasting the bitterness of audition rejection; YouTuber Roger, who is carrying out an almost impossible mission to reach 330,000 subscribers; and 21-year-old Jun-sang, who hid on the road bearing a heavy secret. The novel densely depicts how they walk the same path for 33 days, confront the wounds they have been fleeing from, and heal.
In particular, this work was written based on the experiences Na Sang-cheon gained by completing the Camino de Santiago twice, in 2023 and 2024, which adds realism. The relationships he met on the road and the emotions he reflected on and let go of are infused throughout the novel, promising readers consolation and a deep resonance.
Alongside the novel's publication, Na Sang-cheon is developing a musical based on it titled "Caminarte." "Caminarte," which successfully completed a number showcase in February, is pressing ahead with production aiming for an official performance in Aug. 2027.
As the first project of "Forest of Dreams," which is raising expectations as one-source multi-use content encompassing publishing and performance, it is expected that Na Sang-cheon's emotions will bloom simultaneously in writing and on stage.
[Photo] Dream Engine, Frament
[OSEN]