Today I have the privilege of interviewing the rising author Yuna Lim, who wrote the Cipher Seoul Trilogy. An engaging and thrilling YA, mystery, espionage trilogy with great twists and even greater secrets to be uncovered!
Synopsis:
Seventeen-year-old Kim Ji-soo has spent five years believing her father was nothing more than a boring government clerk who died in an accident. But when she discovers a mysterious coded card hidden in his vinyl record collection, followed by a suspicious break-in at her apartment, Ji-soo’s ordinary high school life shatters.
Read More:
With the help of Min-ho, a secretive new transfer student with uncanny skills, and her best friend Yuna, whose family restaurant hides underground connections, Ji-soo decodes her father’s messages hidden in music. What she uncovers is her father was an intelligence agent who was murdered for discovering a vast conspiracy using K-pop choreography to transmit covert operational codes.
As Ji-soo infiltrates the glittering world of Korean entertainment to find proof, she becomes the target of Director Jung, the powerful intelligence chief behind her father’s death. When Eclipse, Korea’s hottest boy group, gets caught in the crossfire, Ji-soo must convince their leader that they’re being used as unwitting pawns in a dangerous game.
Racing against time and pursued by deadly operatives, Ji-soo must navigate a web of deception where nothing is as it seems—not the entertainment industry, not the government she once trusted, and not even the quiet classmate who harbors his own vendetta against the conspiracy. With her father’s encoded notebook as her guide, Ji-soo must expose the truth before she becomes the next victim of a conspiracy that moves to the rhythm of K-pop’s perfectly synchronized choreography.
In a city where secrets pulse beneath the neon surface, the key to survival might just be hidden in plain sight—in the precise movements of a dance that millions watch but only few truly see.
Please take a seat grab a coffee or tea or whatever your heart desires and join us for a cosy Get to Know the Author Q&A!
LIN: HELLO YUNA AND THANK YOU FOR PARTAKING IN THIS Q&A AND CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR DEBUT! PLEASE TELL US HOW THE IDEA OF SEOUL SHADOWS CAME TO BE?
YUNA LIM:Thank you so much! I’m so excited to be here and to finally share this story with the world.
The idea for Seoul Shadows really came from a place of curiosity and compassion. If you’ve ever followed the idol industry in Asia—whether through survival shows, fan cams, interviews, or even the countless articles and exposés—you start to see the intense pressure idols are under. Over the years, and even more so recently, we’ve heard so many heartbreaking stories from ex-idols and actors, and sadly, too many lives lost to a system that often values image over well-being.
As an ARMY—OT7, always—I’ve been deeply inspired by BTS, not just for their music but for their honesty, resilience, and the way they’ve opened up conversations around mental health and self-worth. While Seoul Shadows isn’t about BTS and doesn’t claim to reflect their experience, they were a huge part of what sparked the what if in my mind.
What if the industry had deeper secrets? What if music was more than just a career—what if it was a code, a weapon, a lifeline? I love suspense and conspiracy (I mean, who doesn’t?), and I started to imagine a world where a young girl discovers her father’s hidden past through music—and uncovers something way bigger than herself.
That “what if” grew into a playlist of ideas, a tangle of notes and late-night writing sessions, and eventually became The Cipher Seoul Trilogy.
LIN: SINCE YOU INCORPORATED MUSIC SO CLEVERLY INTO YOUR STORY, DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE SONG OR SINGER/BAND WHO MIGHT HAVE INSPIRED YOU IN SOME WAY?
YL: Absolutely. My favourite K-pop group is BTS, and their song “Mic Drop” was a huge inspiration during the writing process—especially the remix version. The energy, the rebellion, the swagger—it totally fits the tone of the characters uncovering the truth and flipping the script on the people who underestimated them. That track was on repeat during some of the most intense scenes.
WHO IS THE CHARACTER YOU HAD THE MOST FUN WRITING AND WHY?
YL: Yuna—Ji-soo’s best friend—was such a blast to write. She’s smart, scrappy, and endlessly resourceful, and she’s got layers. On the surface, she’s cheerful and loyal, but she’s also deeply connected to an underground world of information and influence. I loved giving her those moments where she goes from “adorable bestie” to “mastermind-in-the-shadows” real quick.
If I had to imagine what she looked like: she would be your stylish, cheerful best friend—cropped pastel hoodie, chunky sneakers, and a bag full of cartoon charms—but there’s more to her than meets the eye. Behind her bright smile and playful vibe is a sharp, strategic mind honed by years in an underground world of secrets and influence. She’s smart, scrappy, and endlessly adaptable—able to switch from bubbly to brilliant in a heartbeat. Underestimate her, and you’ll never see her next move coming.
DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE AUTHOR/BOOK RECOMMENDATION FOR US BOOK LOVERS?
YL: So many! But one that’s stuck with me lately is We Were Liars by E. Lockhart. It’s haunting, twisty, and emotionally impactful—the kind of book that lingers in your bones long after the final page. I also adore Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows duology. Found family, heists, clever banter… it’s everything.
What first sparked your desire to write—and did it take root right away?
YL: I always loved reading books from a very young age, devouring 3-4 a week. I would envision the characters around me, the scenes coming to life in my head. I discovered books could make me feel seen and I wanted to do the same for others. That desire simmered for a while, life took over, and then Seoul Shadows practically demanded to be written.
DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE QUOTE THAT RESONATES WITH YOU?
YL: “Effort makes you. You will regret someday if you don’t do your best now. Don’t think it’s too late but keep working on it. It takes time, but there’s nothing that gets worse due to practicing. So, practice. You may get depressed, but it’s evidence you are doing good.” RM BTS
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE TIME/PLACE TO WRITE?
YL: Time? Honestly, anytime the moment takes me. Inspiration doesn’t keep a schedule.
Place? I have a quiet little corner in my room where I can see the sunset, the trees swaying, clouds drifting by. There’s something really grounding and inspiring about being surrounded by that kind of natural stillness—it reminds me to slow down and let the story come.
AS A COFFEE PERSON MYSELF, WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE DRINK TO SNUGGLE UP WITH ON COLD AND RAINY DAYS?
YL: Coffee. Coffee. And… more coffee. There is no blood in my veins—only coffee. I easily drink up to 8 cups a day. I don’t have a favourite type—I’m in a committed relationship with all coffee.
NAME AT LEAST TWO THINGS YOU LOVE DOING IN YOUR SPARE TIME!
YL: Watching K-dramas (don’t even get me started on plot twists and slow-burn romance!) and eating Korean food. Whether it’s street food or homemade kimchi jjigae, it’s always comforting and nostalgic.
DO YOU LIKE TO TRAVEL IF YES PLEASE TELL US YOUR FAVOURITE PLACE YOU HAVE BEEN TO AND A PLACE YOU WOULD LOVE TO VISIT?
YL: Korea. It’s more than just a place I’ve visited—it’s the beating heart of the Cipher Seoul Trilogy. The alleys of Hongdae, the music echoing through underground studios, the feeling of Seoul at dusk… It’s all in there. The people, the food, the culture—Korea is endlessly inspiring.
NOW A CONTROVERSIAL QUESTION: ARE YOU AN E-BOOK, PHYSICAL BOOK OR AUDIOBOOK READER? I AM ALL OF THE ABOVE HAHA
YL: Haha, same here! But physical books still have my heart—there’s just something about the feel of pages and the scent of a new book.
DO YOU HAVE A PET THAT PERHAPS IS A WRITING/READING BUDDY?
YL: Not quite a writing buddy—they don’t help with deadlines—but always nearby, trying to climb on the keyboard: Kookie and Suga. Yes, named after BTS members! They bring chaos and cuddles in equal measure.
DO YOU HAVE TIPS FOR THE INSPIRING AUTHORS OUT THERE? AND IS THERE SOMETHING YOU WISH YOU KNEW BEFORE STARTING YOUR WRITING JOURNEY?
YL: Write what you know—or what you love. When you do that, the writing flows, and the story feels real. The Cipher Seoul Trilogy is born from things I’ve lived, read, seen, and felt. It’s a love letter to everything that’s shaped me. If it hadn’t come from the heart, it would’ve been ten times harder to write. So, write from your core. That’s where the truth is.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST What do you hope readers feel after finishing your book?
YL: I hope they feel exhilarated, a little breathless, and seen. That they walk away believing that even the most ordinary-seeming people can carry extraordinary secrets. And that music? Music can be more powerful than we ever imagined.
YL: I also just wanted to take a moment to say a heartfelt thank you, Lin for the opportunity to be part of this Q&A feature. I truly appreciate the thoughtful questions and the chance to share a little more about my journey and the world behind The Cipher Seoul Trilogy.
LIN: The pleasure was entirely mine! Thank you for taking the time to answer each question and showing us a little bit behind the scenes and can I just say Kookie and Suga are the cutest! No, I am not biased at all!!
HAPPY READING EVERYONE AND HAVE A GREAT WEEK!
Lin's Perspective 
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