K-좀비의 새로운 흐름과 타자와의 공존 가능성: 2016년 이후 좀비 영화를 중심으로

Abstract

Zombies are among the most popular pop culture icons of the 21st century. In Korean society, zombies gained significant popularity after the success of Train to Busan in 2016. Since then, K-Zombies have been exported worldwide, driving the genre’s global popularity. This study examines the new trends and shifts in K-Zombies, noting that various types have emerged since their inception. For this purpose, we categorize K-Zombies into two types: ‘Running K-Zombies’ and ‘Post-K-Zombies.’ Running K-Zombies represent the mainstream form of K-Zombies today: virally transmitted, fast-running, and destructive monsters that evoke apocalyptic fears. Running K-Zombies expose the absurdities and contradictions of modern society through their depiction and reflect the darker aspects of human behavior. On the other hand, Post-K-Zombies are slow, lumbering, clumsy, and sorrowful creatures. Although still on the fringes of the mainstream, Post-K-Zombies strive to move away from their monstrous origins and closer to being subjects. If the Running K-Zombie functions as an embodiment of extreme otherness, the Post-K-Zombie is significant because it rethinks the zombie concept and seeks to establish a new relationship between humans and zombies. Running K-Zombies are characterized by rapid infectiousness, extreme violence, and an inability to communicate. In <Train to Busan> and <#Alive>, zombies run at high speeds, infecting others and spreading across large areas instantly. They are monsters who express extreme violence toward humans, recklessly charging at them without concern for their own safety. Communication with zombies is impossible from the outset, and any attempt to do so ends in disaster. As such, zombies are depicted as absolute others— horrifying monsters incapable of coexisting with humans. Post-K-Zombies, on the other hand, are characterized by low contagiousness, non-violence, and a potential for communication, as seen in <Hyo-Ja> and <The Odd Family: Zombie on Sale>. In these films, zombies are either non-contagious or have reversed contagion, such as possessing healing abilities. The cause of contagion is not the zombies themselves but human greed. These zombies are portrayed as trying to help and save others rather than harm them. Post-K-Zombies seem to recognize and interact with humans, thrive on communication, and even sacrifice themselves for others. However, Post-K-Zombies never become independent, fully realized entities. While they offer the possibility of coexistence with humans, the narrative ultimately fails to escape its anthropocentric perspective. Despite their potential for coexistence, Post-K Zombies remain idealized or defined as the ‘other’ from a human centered viewpoint. They highlight the limitations of zombies, unable to reveal their inner world, unique desires, or independent subjectivity.