In “Low Pressure Front,” Cho Myung-hee explores a common trope of colonial-era Korean literature: the frustrated intellectual struggling to make a living in the face of limited opportunities. Trapped between the constant crisis mode and the inescapable boredom of poverty, the speaker in this story reflects Cho’s socialist leanings and his interest in the downtrodden, but the acerbic voice and intimate point of view lend an unexpected touch of humor to an otherwise familiar narrative.