Sim Sangdae was born in Gangneung of Gangwon-do Province, Korea, on January 25, 1960. He made his literary debut in 1990 through the journal Literature of the World. With an aesthetic style rare to most Korean writers, Sim explores life’s critical moments and the concept of beauty in his works. He was brought to attention for his first novel Once Known as Mukho which illustrated his exquisite grasp of the Korean language, his technical flair, and his unique tone.