Discover Deux Coréennes with Seh-Lynn Chai

Deux Coréennes * (English title: The Hard Road Out) is a moving narrative that traces the extraordinary journey of a North Korean refugee who found safe haven in the United Kingdom after years of unimaginable hardship. Written by South Korean author Seh-Lynn Chai, who dedicated five years bringing this story to life, the book goes beyond mere testimony. It is a work of storytelling—crafted with narrative depth and emotional clarity—that explores not only escape and survival but also the human connections formed across borders and ideologies.

As the two women—one from the North, one from the South—form an unlikely sisterhood, they confront the ways in which their lives were shaped by opposing systems of belief, and ultimately discover a shared legacy. With compassion, nuance and moral urgency, Deux Coréennes sheds light on a Korean rarely seen in headlines, offering readers a rare opportunity to bear witness to truth, resilience and grace.


Presented in French at 6.30pm, followed by book sale and signing onsite.


* Score of 4.45/5 on Babelio. 

About the author

Seh-Lynn Chai is a banker turned writer and aims to deliver important messages through storytelling. Daughter of a South Korean diplomat, she was raised from an early age in French-speaking countries, mainly West Africa. Over the last 5 years, the book has propelled her on the international scene as a global speaker, expert in Korean questions. She delivers lectures in Korean, French and English, from both geopolitical and literary angles.