“The natural enemy of a Korean is another Korean.” You’ll go into this one thinking you have a spy novel in your hands but the journey is going to be so much more than that.

This book is set in Oxford, England and on the first page we have a murdered North Korean spy, Doha Kim, his murderer sparking a cat and mouse chase between three main groups: the North Koreans, the South Koreans, and the Americans, mainly focusing on Yohan Kim (North Korean spy), Jihoon Lim (owner of the Oxford Soju Club, the only Korean restaurant in Oxford), and Yunah Choi (a Korean-American CIA agent) and how their paths cross as they carry out their work and/or missions.

For me, this has been very tough to review as I don’t want to give away too much and I’d like for everyone to read it instead of reading what I have to say about it. Anything I say will pale in comparison. I loved the slight tension that I could feel within every page that paired with the delicate complexities of each character. Park did a beautiful job of humanizing every character and it felt like each held a piece of him too, glimpses of how he’s felt through his life in different situations or places.

There were twists and turns, confusion and chaos, heart and loyalty spread throughout the story using flashbacks and memories. The timelines can be confusing (in a good way and purposely) which keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire time, while trying to figure out the motives and end game for every character. The first night I picked this book up, I told myself I would read only a chapter until 2:30am showed up. I couldn’t finish it in one sitting and spent that day patiently going through my workday, excited to pick it up again.

And finally, for those who are confused at the name switches (a few of the characters have code names and they are used interchangeably), unfamiliar terms, and who are struggling.. I am going to ask you gently to please take your time and look things up. I promise you once you take your time with the words and look into the meanings of some of the names and things you do not understand in order to appreciate the story even more.

I laughed, I cried (more than once), I loved this book. A wonderful debut and I cannot wait to read what Jinwoo Park writes next.

I received an e-arc in exchange for an honest review and I'd like to thank Dundurn Press and Jinwoo Park for the opportunity. (And as a fun little note, I preordered it and picked up a physical copy as well, so I was going to read it either way. I was really excited for this one and it did not disappoint!)

This debut is a strong start for Jinwoo Park. I absolutely loved Oxford Soju Club.

It’s a spy thriller that explores an espionage conflict between North Korean agents and the American CIA. But as I read, I realized that was just the surface. Beneath the action lie deeper questions—about homeland and duty, assimilation in a foreign country, cultural differences, healing from trauma, the meaning of family, and so much more. I was deeply invested in the conversations between the characters as they explored these themes. If I had a physical copy of the book, it would be full of bookmarks—I highlighted so many powerful ideas.

My favorite line is still this one:
"I mean you can take me out of my country, but you can't take kimchi out of me. I'll crave it wherever I go!"
It’s witty, but also packed with philosophical meaning between the lines.

I would easily give this book five stars—if only I hadn’t been confused by the characters at times. As a reader, I was introduced to many characters all at once, and it was a bit challenging to keep track of who’s who. That said, I especially loved Jihoon and his story. It felt the most relatable and was easier to follow compared to the others.

Thank you to Dundurn Press for providing an early copy of this book. And congratulations to Jinwoo Park on the publication of his first novel—it’s a promising beginning. I look forward to see what he writes next.

I'm so gutted to say that I had to DNF this book.

I was incredibly excited when I received this via NetGalley (thank you again NetGalley for supplying this copy to me) as when I read what this book was about it intrigued me. When I began reading, it started really good, which only excited me more. However, upon continuing to read it, I failed to be intrigued.

The writing style of the author is beautiful, very easy and smooth to read. The story as a whole does appear to be well written, though I didn't like the approach of the layout of the story, I found it broke me from my reading and made it difficult for me to fall back in.

Somehow, I felt the book was both rushed and dragging at the same time, I found myself getting bored reading it and forced myself to read faster to get through it sooner - for the genre of this book, I fear I should not be a reaction someone has. I wanted to fully emerse myself in the story and I just couldn't

Continuously, I'd given this book the benefit of the doubt, assuming it was me just not being in the mood for this genre, but time after time of trying, I still couldn't get into this book.

Perhaps another time I will give it another shot, however, for now, this book gets a 2.5 stars from me.

I loved this book. Very personal meditation on culture and being Korean - but at the same time a thrilling adventure with North Korean spies at Oxford students.
This is a debut that packs a punch. If you're looking for a blend of action, cultural insight, and a touch of mystery, look no further.

This was another okay, kind-of-quick 3 stars read.

I liked that the setting was in Oxford and I liked the thriller elements of the story, and I specially liked the biggest part of the story - Korean identity or identities. However, where my problems start and stay is just too many POV's and characters and if I spend being confused about the book/story that long... something doesn't sit right. The characters themselves were also confused as heck but I just couldn't connect and although this is the best part of the story, there is so much going on and sometimes the spy part got pushed to the side and.. yeah.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this book.
This is a spy novel that has a few different groups involved.
Similar to most spy novels, it has suspense, intrigue and of course murder.
However, there are deeper messages with this book as well. This is about how Koreans are treated and about how they survive. It is a world that is tough to be in, tough to survive in and tough to find success. This gives us a look into how lucky we are in Canada to have the freedoms we have, and for the most part, the safety and security that exists here.
Overall, it is well written, exciting and held my interest.

I enjoyed reading this book,primarily because I find Korea so very fascinating. I also liked that it was set in Oxford. The author clearly set out his parameters at the very beginning in so far as it was very much about how different Koreans saw themselves and each other. The spy elements were not quite as riveting as I anticipated Nevertheless a good read

This book, set mainly in Oxford, England, written by a Canadian of Korean Heritage, revolves around the activities of a collection of characters, who work at or visit the Oxford Soju Club. All bar one are of Korean extraction – North or South, or a child of Korean migrants. All bar one are spies with a multitude of aliases. All suffer under the expectations of others – be they cultural, familial, or national. To whom does each character owe their loyalty?
At first I found it very confusing – so many unfamiliar names, confected backstories – and a non-linear time line. I took a moment to make some notes. But, then I realised that it wasn’t only me – the characters also had little idea what was going on, and when they did – it scared them. People are dying – why? Who is responsible? What is the endgame? Is there one? Most the characters have spent so much of their lives wearing one or another mask – do they know any longer who they really are? If they are set free of duty and expectations, can they decide what to do?
Ethnic and cultural identity entangled with duty is the essence of this book.
It takes time to get a handle on the book. The pace is fast, and you barely get a moment to regroup. But, it really is worth it. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes spy novels or international politics – or just a fascinating tale of some parts of Korean psyche.

Oxford Soju Club is a literary thriller and twisty spy novel that digs into the complexities of the Korean diaspora.

And it is truly complex to follow, dare I say overly complex. Multiple POVs, dual timelines, and too many spies to keep track of.

But, I did find the interactions between the various Koreans to be fascinating. Each character had a different take on cultural identity and manifested a range of internal prejudices.

Which mades it an enjoyable and quick read for me.

so glad i requested this as an arc because it was such a delight to read! i personally like it when books aren’t written too explicitly which was definitely the case here. jinwoo park gives you puzzle pieces and makes you put together the full story yourself, but only at very the end. kept me very entertained on the road in the uk!

thank you to netgalley.

That was an emotional ride. I expected my heart to be broken, and it happened. A very interesting debut novel that captured my attention from beginning to end. With the different points of view, we got to know these fascinating characters better and see their stories intertwine. I'll definitely be reading the author's next books.

3.5 Stars rounded up to 4

I first heard about Oxford Soju Club in the Montreal Review of Books, so I was thrilled when I was able to snag an advanced copy from NetGalley and Dundurn Press in exchange for an honest review.

The story centers around a group of North Korean spies who have set themselves up in Oxford, England and the American spies who are watching them. When the North Korean mission begins to crumble in the wake of a regime change and agent Doha Kim is killed, what had been a stalemate becomes an open conflict. Yohan Kim must get to the Oxford Soju Club, the only (South) Korean restaurant in town, in order to get answers about his mentor's death.

For me, the most interesting aspect of this book is the exploration of different aspects of Korean identity(ies). North Koreans spies abroad in service of their country and its leader, experiencing freedoms wholly unavailable to their countrymen, unable to return home. A South Korean wanting to experience life beyond how was raised who winds up opening a restaurant that roots him firmly to his family and his culture. A Korean American spy posing as a South Korean expat in England, despite speaking no Korean, whose identity is seen as both an asset and a reason for distrust by the government she serves. Character portrayals are intricate and layered, but changes in perspective and point of view (3rd person to 1st) can make the book hard to follow in places.


I felt like the spy plot took a backseat to these meditations. There were some thrilling moments and a few reveals that made me gasp out loud, but this aspect of the book felt like more of a vehicle for bringing these characters together and in conflict with one another than something fully developed on its own. Trying very hard to avoid spoilers, but one of my favorite characters died, and then the story moved on with very little fanfare. I wish the book had given more weight to the tragedy of it.

Overall, a very interesting read on some new-to-me topics and a great debut from a local author I'll be looking for more from in the future.

This book is hands down one of my favourite reads of the year, and to be honest - ever.

I went into this book not really knowing what to expect but I thought it was gonna be like a spy/action type of book and whilst it is that - it’s so much more.

Just by reading the the beginning of the book, I realised this book is heavily focused on questioning identity and who we see ourselves, and others, as because of social constructs.

I fell completely in love with the writing, the way the characters were chronicled was so beautiful. You felt really connected to each character because of varied POVs.

It also articulated emotions so wonderfully and made you see love in such a unique way. Sometimes action books don’t quite hit the mark in the emotional depth department but this book had so much emotional depth.

So many social issues were highlighted and that really added so much depth to this book. It’s easy to overlook important topics like that but this book focuses on them and did a wonderful job in communicating the issues.

This book was heartbreaking, I finished it last night and I still feel my heart ache.

This book was an unforgettable read for me and I see myself re-reading it in the future.

I will definitely be reading Jinwoo’s future works, this was such an incredible debut novel.

Thank you NetGalley, Dundurn Press and Jinwoo Park for this ARC!

A Korean spy story with layers and layers of characters that the author describes as an allegory for the masks that he has had to wear as a Korean immigrant. While I cannot relate to many of the immigrant themes it was a captivating and insightful experience that acknowledges the ways that individuals need to change who they are to fit into different contexts in their lives.

Thank you to Dundurn Press and NetGalley for providing this ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

What a great, catchy title! You had me at the 'soju' as a lover of this particular Korean spirit, chilled plum flavoured soju being my absolute favourite!
But a potential reader might have also been drawn to this book for the Oxford, England reference. That is where the story is based. Intriguing combination.
I was disappointed there were not many references to the said soju but for 'the green tint of soju bottles'.
The overall plot is about Korean immigrant assimilation. There is murder and espionage. One of my favourite sentences: ‘Americans pursue higher education because they are motivated by capitalistic desires and the allure of being able to command more money and status'.
I have enjoyed the inserts of the Korean language like ‘Hyung-nim' and it makes all the difference in the reading experience when you are clued on what it means.

Thank you Dundurn Press and NetGalley!

Before the opening of The Oxford Soju Club author Jinwoo Park gives a kind of guide on how to read the book. The main characters, he says, are different aspects of the Korean expatriate experience “the one who tries to assimilate, the one who tries to be the model minority, and the one who rejects all of the above and tries to be Korean”. So if many debut novels are in someway autobiographical then Park, a Canadian Korean, is making that idea explicit. This understanding does not make this espionage caper any less enjoyable but it does provide readers with a key to understanding some of the book’s metaphoric resonance.
The Oxford Soju Club of the title is a Korean restaurant in Oxford opened by an expatriate Korean called Jihoon. Jihoon’s backstory, how he ended up running a restaurant in Oxford cooking his mother’s recipes will play out through the tale as will the backstories of the other two main players. These are North Korean agent Yohan who is trying to deal with the death of his mentor Doha, and Korean American CIA agent Yunah who has been surveilling Yohan with her partner and who finds the body of Doha.
This is first and foremost an espionage thriller with not only North Korean and American agents but a South Korean operative. The action revolves around the consequences of Doha’s death but also the attempt to kidnap North Korean spymaster Dr Ryu who has a strong connection to Yohan. That action keeps coming back to the Oxford Soju Club, a place where all of the Korean characters come for a taste of home. And those meals, and to some extent their preparation, are lovingly described by Park.
The Oxford Soju Club is a novel steeped in Korean culture. But with K-everything is becoming popular, particularly a certain Canadian flavour (thinking here particularly about properties like Kim’s Convenience and K-Pop Demon Hunters with its Canadian director), it is likely that many readers will be able to sink into the specificity. And that specificity is important when considering the options of all of the main characters. From the stories of Jihoon and his assistant, who has announced that he is moving back to Korea because that is where they both belong, to those of Yunah’s family who run a bakery in America and are active congregants of the Korean church, to Yohan’s dislocation from his North Korean identity.
While The Oxford Soju Club may not be the most sophisticated espionage novel, Park sets up enough mystery to keep the pages turning. And it anchors a fascinating consideration of Korean identity, particularly as it is expressed and experienced by those living outside of Korea.

From the opening pages of 'Oxford Soju Club', Jinwoo Park begins with a murder. We are immediately thrust into the mystery, and we are placed into the role of detective/agent who must piece together what happened to the victim. It was refreshing to read a novel that does not take six or seven chapters to establish the mystery or introduce the key players. By the second or third chapter, we already know most of the important characters, and the rest of the novel is spent piecing together how they are connected to the initial crime.

The novel reveals its preoccupations with hidden nationalities, concealed identities, and unspoken motives. Much of the novel unfolds around the Oxford Soju Club itself, a gathering place for characters from different countries. It becomes a touchstone in their lives: South Koreans, North Koreans, Americans—all of them battling for knowledge, influence, and a sense of belonging. They come to a new country, and they need a place to belong, and the club offers that respite for them.

Like most spy novels, identity is a central theme. Park examines the consequences of a nation divided in two. How do South Koreans and North Koreans relate to one another? Do they trust each other? Do they see themselves as simply Korean, or do they cling to the distinctions of North and South? And how are they perceived by outsiders? These questions carry particular weight throughout the novel, and they especially have significance in the UK political climate of 2025. Park is equally concerned with the quotidian experience of an immigrant. He also explores what it feels like to arrive in a country where many locals are suspicious or even hostile. How does one hope to fit in under such conditions? Does one ever fit in?

Park depicts this with empathy, while also resisting the temptation to over-explain. He expects his readers to do their own work, to look up aspects of Korean history and politics rather than have them spelled out for the reader. I appreciated this as I like doing the research and looking up events and places I've never heard of. Too often, when we think of Korea, we think of K-pop, K-dramas, and glamorous Korean singers and actors. We do not consider what it means to be a fractured country.

There are, however, some weaknesses. The constant shifts between perspectives make it difficult at times to empathise fully with the characters, as we are always starting from scratch. While this may be deliberate, I would have preferred to stay with some characters a little longer. I was also disappointed by a particular plot development in which one character disappears from the narrative. I would have liked this character to remain a part of the story. I am being vague here to avoid spoilers.

Jinwoo Park—translator and a charismatic online creator—proves himself equally talented as a novelist. ‘Oxford Soju Club’ is a strong debut.

Thank you to Dundurn Press via NetGalley for the ARC.

“So you’re saying that I can only be your friend if I reject who I am.”

This is a spy novel on the surface, but in actuality this is an identity book on a much deeper level. You can see the expectations of citizens across numerous nationalities and how that impacts their lives and influences their decisions.

Of course, if you’re a mixed nationality, what are you? Certainly not who you think are. You aren’t accepted; you’re less of a person; you’re less of a citizen. You can feel closer to others than those you share an identity with.

As for the novel itself: This is quick paced, and I’ll say it’s pretty good. I enjoyed it, and it kept me hooked. I wish the author would have developed the characters’s relationships a bit more. I could feel like we were supposed to be emotionally invested with the characters, and I didn’t feel quite connected to them.

I liked the use of espionage as a vehicle to discuss identity, aliases, biases, and the lengths we go to for our beliefs (or non-beliefs).

There are multiple POVs and some time jumps that could take use to getting use to. Especially the time jumps, as it wasn’t always clear right away that it was a time jump.

I would recommend if you’re looking for a quick spy novel but goes slightly deeper in asking questions that make you uncomfortable.

I think that this book just wasn't for me. I was very intrigued by the concept and I did enjoy most of the story and learning about the characters over the course of the novel. However, I was not as big of a fan of the writing style nor the format of the chapters. I found the dialogue to be a bit unnatural in some cases and the rapid changes in point of view/flashbacks to be confusing. I think that the formatting of the eARC did contribute to the latter issue as there were no major spaces between changes in POV.

Spymaster Doha Kim is found in an Oxford alley way. Stabbed and dying. Johan, his protégé finds him just as he is drawing his last breath with which he gives instructions. “Dr Rhu. Soju Club”. Both characters are North Korean spies and it turns out the “club” is the only Korean restaurant in Oxford run by Jihoon, a South Korean who chose to settle in Oxford. His restaurant becomes the focal point of the yarn as naturally, it attracts Koreans and so other spies spying on the spies! This includes Yunah Choi, undercover CIA American Korean investigating the Korean spy cell and struggling with her mission.

As the story unfolds, tragedy is followed by tragedy whether in real time or as back stories. The narrative zigzags from present to past, with characters interacting in, what I sometimes found to be a confusing manner. Occasionally I was struggling to work out who was speaking to whom. However, what kept me reading was the human stories behind the characters; e.g. the gradual realisation of the North Koreans that they are being lied to by their monster Leader. The tragedy of famine, and towards the end of the book the terrible truth about Johan and his family.

The threads that joined all the characters were tangled and at times hard to follow as the chapters were titled with assumed identities not their names, which were not their real names either…you follow why it was confusing? However, I think by the end I had grasped the main points and understood the main characters which made the tragic nature of the stories more poignant.

I think this story is not so much about spying and spy craft but about how circumstances, chosen or imposed, motivate and affect the people tangled up in a web of lies and deceit. I found this story intriguing and affecting if slightly confusing at times but I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys not just spy stories but human stories.

Thanks to NetGalley for the kindle copy. This is my true opinion after a full and complete reading of the book.