Things Left Behind " (Korean title: 떠난 후에 남겨진 것들) is a poignant essay collection by Kim Sae-byul, a professional "trauma cleaner" in South Korea. The book is the primary inspiration for the popular Netflix K-drama Move to Heaven. 📘 Book Overview Author: Kim Sae-byul (co-authored with Jeon Ae-won).
Core Theme: Stories of those who died alone (godoksa), told through the belongings they left behind.
Format: A collection of ~30 essays detailing specific cases the author encountered while cleaning homes after a death. 🗝️ Key Insights
The Profession: A trauma cleaner specializes in sanitizing and organizing the homes of the deceased, often when there are no family members available or willing to do so.
Human Connection: The essays focus on the "silent messages" left by the dead—such as unsent letters, hidden savings, or meticulous journals—to piece together their life stories.
Social Reflection: The book explores modern loneliness, isolation, and the importance of saying "thank you" and "I love you" while still alive. 📥 Availability and Formats
While specific download links for EPUBs are often restricted by copyright, the book is available through major digital retailers: English Edition: Often titled Things Left Behind.
Indonesian Edition: Titled Hal-hal yang Kita Pelajari dari Mereka yang Telah Tiada.
Digital Platforms: You can find official eBook versions (EPUB/PDF) on retailers like Google Play Books, Amazon Kindle, or the Kobo Store.
💡 Note: If you are a fan of the show Move to Heaven, many of the show's most emotional subplots (like the story of the young factory worker) are directly adapted from chapters in this book.
Things Left Behind by Kim Sae-byul (co-authored with Jeon Ae-won) is a profound non-fiction essay collection that explores the raw realities of life and death through the lens of a trauma scene cleaner. As the real-life inspiration behind the popular Netflix K-drama Move to Heaven, this book has gained international acclaim for its deeply humanistic approach to mourning and memory. About the Book
Kim Sae-byul, who founded a special cleaning company called Biohazard, has spent over two decades cleaning the homes of the deceased, particularly those who died alone (godoksa) or under tragic circumstances. The book contains approximately 30 stories that Kim "saved" by looking closely at the items left behind when everyone else turned away. Genre: Memoir, Non-fiction, Self-help, Psychology.
Original Title: 떠난 후에 남겨진 것들 (Things Left Behind After Departure). things left behind kim sae byul epub
Core Theme: The belief that "the things people leave behind can tell countless stories about their lives". Key Themes and Stories
The narrative is structured around the moral and experiential wisdom extracted from these final moments.
The Weight of Life: Stories often highlight the pressures of modern society, such as a dental student who ended her life due to intense academic and parental expectations.
Loneliness and Connection: Many cases involve elderly individuals who died alone, their bodies undiscovered for weeks, underscoring the value of family and community.
Unconditional Love: Kim uses stories of parental and even pet love to illustrate how these bonds provide resilience and meaning, even in the face of death.
Lessons for the Living: The book is less about the act of dying and more about how to live better. Kim encourages readers to foster a "gratitude mindset" and to settle the "things left behind" in their hearts before it's too late. Why Readers Seek the EPUB Version Things left behind to Those left behind with Kim Sae Byul
This guide explores Things Left Behind (originally Hal-hal yang Kita Pelajari dari Mereka yang Telah Tiada
) by Kim Sae-byul and Jeon Ae-won. Kim Sae-byul is a "trauma cleaner" in South Korea, and his collection of essays serves as the inspiration for the popular Netflix K-drama Move to Heaven Book Overview
The book consists of 30 true stories from Kim Sae-byul’s career cleaning the homes of the deceased. He focuses on the items left behind—photos, hidden dreams, and unmailed letters—to reconstruct the lives of those who died alone or in tragic circumstances. : Explores the value of life, family, and social isolation. Perspective
: Written with a "deep, warm gaze" rather than just sadness, offering lessons on how to live more meaningfully. Reading Guide & Key Takeaways Emotional Preparation
: Be prepared for heavy topics including suicide, terminal illness, and elderly loneliness. The "Trauma Cleaning" Lens
: Understand that Sae-byul views his work as a service to the dead, "telling the stories they never got to say". Core Lesson Things Left Behind " (Korean title: 떠난 후에
: The book emphasizes that a single warm word or gesture can prevent someone from choosing death. Where to Find the EPUB
The book is widely available in digital formats, particularly through Indonesian and Southeast Asian retailers where it has seen high popularity.
Things Left Behind " by Kim Sae-byul (co-authored with Jeon Ae-won) is a deeply moving collection of essays by a trauma cleaner who organizes the belongings of the deceased. The book served as the inspiration for the popular Netflix K-drama Move to Heaven. 📖 Review Summary
Reviewers from Goodreads and The StoryGraph highlight the following:
Human Connection: The book explores the stories told by physical objects left behind—guitars, letters, and photos—which reveal the loneliness, regrets, and loves of those who have passed.
Social Reflection: It addresses harsh realities in modern South Korea, such as godoksa (lonely deaths), suicide, and the social stigma surrounding trauma cleaning.
Emotional Weight: While often described as "heart-wrenching" and "eye-opening," it is praised for being written with a "deep, warm gaze" rather than just being a collection of tragedies.
Life Lessons: Readers often feel it is a powerful reminder to cherish current relationships and appreciate the value of life. 🛒 Where to Buy (eBook/EPUB)
You can find the eBook version (often available in EPUB format) through major digital retailers:
Gramedia Digital : Offers the Indonesian translation (often titled Hal-hal yang Kita Pelajari dari Mereka yang Telah Tiada) in digital format.
Google Play Books: Often lists regional translations of the title.
Amazon Kindle: Check for current English or regional language availability. Paperback: The physical book is available for international
Guide: Accessing and Reading "Things Left Behind" by Kim Sae-byul
This guide provides information on the book Things Left Behind (often translated as Almalhada or simply Things Left Behind) by Korean author Kim Sae-byul, along with instructions on how to find it in digital (EPUB) format.
If you cannot find the EPUB or do not have an e-reader, consider these alternatives:
Note: As Kim Sae-byul is known for lyricism and ambiguity, this synopsis avoids major spoilers while capturing the book's soul.
"Things Left Behind" is neither a traditional novel nor a pure poetry collection. It falls into the emerging genre of hybrid prose—a meditative narrative told through the lens of an unnamed protagonist who returns to her late grandmother’s countryside home in rural South Korea.
The grandmother, a meticulous yet mysterious woman, has left behind over 500 objects: a chipped celadon vase, a bundle of yellowed letters tied with faded ribbon, a single child’s mitten, a broken wristwatch stopped at 4:13 AM, and dozens of dried flowers pressed into the pages of discarded ledgers.
The protagonist’s task is simple: clear the house. But the emotional journey is complex. Each chapter focuses on a single "thing"—a comb, a spoon, a photograph, a shoe—and through that object, Kim Sae-byul unravels a century of Korean history. The book covers the Japanese occupation, the Korean War, the rapid industrialization of the ’70s and ’80s, and the modern diaspora.
The "things" are not just clutter. They are evidence of a life fully lived, fiercely protected, and quietly endured. The title operates on two levels:
The EPUB is widely available through Korean digital bookstores. If you read Korean or want to use translation tools, this is the best route.
| Element | Description |
|---------|-------------|
| Genre | Literary fiction / Contemporary drama |
| Setting | Modern-day Seoul, South Korea, with flash‑backs to rural hometowns |
| Core Plot | The novel follows Jin‑hee, a thirty‑something office worker who discovers a box of old letters, photographs, and mementos that belonged to her late mother, Mi‑young. As Jin‑hee sorts through the items, she reconstructs a family history riddled with secrets, unspoken sacrifices, and lingering regrets. Parallel to this, Jin‑hee’s own life—her strained marriage, a demanding career, and an emerging friendship with a widowed carpenter—begins to mirror the emotional patterns she uncovers. |
| Main Themes | - Memory & Intergenerational Trauma – The way past events echo into the present.
- Identity & Belonging – Struggles between personal ambition and cultural/familial expectations.
- Healing & Forgiveness – The process of reconciling with loss and self‑acceptance.
- Material vs. Emotional Legacy – What we truly inherit from our ancestors. |
| Narrative Style | First‑person present mixed with occasional third‑person flashbacks. The prose is lyrical yet grounded, often interspersed with short, diary‑like entries that appear in the “box” Jin‑hee discovers. |
| Tone | Reflective, melancholic, but ultimately hopeful. The book balances moments of quiet sorrow with subtle humor, especially through side characters who embody everyday resilience. |
Why the Title Works