2000년대 북한 과학환상문학의 양상과 특징 - 2000~김정일 사망 직전까지 작품을 중심으로

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to examine the aspects and characteristics of science fiction published from 2000 until just before Kim Jong-il's death. The first characteristic is the quantitative increase in the number of works, the expansion of the medium, and the emergence of new artists. Between 2000 and 2010, 31 works were published. This is a little less than the works published in the 1990s, and more than the works published from 2011 to the present. The medium was not limited to Children's Literature, but expanded to Cheonlima, Youth Literature, and Chosun Literature. This is the result of expanding not only children, but also youth and the general public to the readership. Second is the concentration of materials. The subject matter of science fiction since 2000 has focused on specific types with diversity. In particular, it is focusing on space science, energy and resources, and artificial intelligence. This was the energy and resources that North Korea needed most at that time. On the other hand, all the works were silent and indifferent of the food issue, which was the most urgent in reality. This seems to be a strategic avoidance to forget the ordeal of the famine. Third, the older generation appeared as the central character of the narrative. The older generation, who had weakened since 1960 in North Korean science fiction, began to emerge as important figures again. This is due to the influence of Yu Hoon politics. It is a narrative that the older generation is an example of life and a spiritual model, and the new generation must use the older generation as an example to develop science and technology and sacrifice for the motherland. As such, North Korean science literature between 2000 and 2010 reproduces their own utopia created by the 'older generation' and the 'young generation'.