매일 죽어야 하는 X was a very entertaining and easy to read short novel! It’s a time loop novel and the protagonist, Donghyeon, is suffering from amnesia, so the goal is not only to know why the time loop happens, but also to understand why our main character is where he is: a juvenile detention center.
This setting makes the story even more interesting and opens the door for ambiguous feelings towards Donghyeon. There are also some reflexions about the possibility of redemption, but mostly the novel is just a fast-paced and suspenseful thriller.
I really loved the end too.
매일 죽어야 하는 X
Maeil jugeoya haneun X
Author
정명섭 (Jeong Myeongseob) · Chung Myung-seop
Language
Korean
Format
Novel
Published
2026
Pages
184
Read
2026-05-24 → 2026-05-29
Finished
♥ Liked
★★★★★
Review
★★★★★
♥ Liked
Updates
100%
Finished! Last chapter was great, I was afraid at some point that the story would take a turn I personally would have found disappointing, but it didn’t in the end, and I liked the conclusion very much.
86%
Finished 5, it was very short!
This book reads very easily 
76%
Finished chapter 4!
Time loop novels can easily become repetitive, but this one is fast pace and each day feels different. I like that our protagonist is trying everything to understand the situation and change his fate.
However, the story might take a direction I won’t like as much… we’ll see!
60%
Finished chapter 3! The story is really great, I love it.
I’m also glad that I completed my reading goals for today 
40%
I finished chapter 2!
I really love time loop 
30%
Finished the first chapter!
Not the setting is done, things can really get started!
25%
Beginning is very good! Main character is very likeable, and the novel makes you want to know what will happen to him.
But even more interesting is the setting: a school giving a second chance to young offenders. This leads to discussions about rehabilitation and whether they can change or not through this kind of system. I like this kind of topics!
The book is very easy to read too!
Characters
죽은의 이유
박가윤
Park Gayun
Psychological counselor
강윤섭
Kang Yunseob
linked to the reason Donghyeon is in the institution.
김도윤
Kim Doyun
Student of big stature who quarrelled with Donghyeon
한동현
Han Donghyeon
(prologue). Lost his memory.
오윤성
O Yunseong
Editor in chief of the 월간 형사.
한제아
Female student with long blond hair
박강섭
Student with make-up, ex idol trainee, rapper “와이맨”.
동현
Donghyeon
Flees something or someone and falls
Vocabulary
| Word | Hanja | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| 확성기 | 擴聲器 | loudspeaker |
| 몽둥이 | stick | |
| 정강이 | shin | |
| 갱생 | 更生 | rehabilitation |
| 소년원 | 少年院 | youth detention center; juvenile detention center; juvenile hall |
| 환각제 | 幻覺劑 | hallucinogen |
| 강탈 | 強奪 | robbery; seizure; extortion |
| 건망증 | 健忘症 | forgetfulness; absent-mindedness |
| 선행성 건망증 | 先行性健忘症 | anterograde amnesia |
| 해마 | 海馬 | hippocampus |
| 대마초 | 大麻草 | hemp; marijuana |
| 패거리 | 牌거리 | gang |
| 북두칠성 | 北斗七星 | Big Dipper; Great Bear |