다문화공간에 나타난 지리적 타자성 - 2000년대 다문화소설을 중심으로

Abstract

The reality of reinforcing multicultural and diaspora situations has been witnessing the progress of multiculturization and the emergence of multicultural spaces. Being located in the areas of 3D jobs, sex business, and caregiving labor avoided by the Korean citizens, immigrant workers live in groups at job sites such as the surroundings of their plants, karaokes, clubs and military campside towns, dwelling arrangements such as rooftop rooms, single rooms, containers, and pig shed-turned rooms, and in redevelopment zones. Indicated by its titles including “Yanbian Street,” “Little China” and “Joseongjok Town,” Garibong-dong of Guro-gu, which is the backdrop of The Love Song of Garibong and The Lamb Skewers of Garibong, forms a network of Joseonjok diaspora and exchanges and shares information for dispersed life. Deteriorated, dirty, and dangerous multicultural spaces are described as crime-ridden districts, slums, and redevelopment zones where homicide takes place at the ends of the novels. The backdrop of Nine Blue Sonyas, Itaewon is full of prostitution and entertainment establishments and attracts a lot of foreigners. Sonya, who is an immigrant Russian lady, cannot find comfort or rest at her rooftop room and club and is subjected to violence, extortion, and forced sex by her boyfriend and broker. She leads such a hard and humiliating life. She is treated as the object of sexual desire and that of transnational control that can be easily handled as an obedient and quiet Asian woman of Orientalism at this place overwhelmed by sex, money, alcohol, and violence. Namaste and The Elephant have their backgrounds at the plant complex of Bucheon and Shiksa-dong, Goyang, respectively. Violating the health and housing rights, those places are located in shabby and dirty redevelopment zones with an odor. The two novels describe Nepal and South Korea as the high sacred Himalayas and the low plant complex, respectively, in a dual fashion, reporting the South Korean society full of discrimination and prejudice. The multicultural spaces in Garibong-dong, the community of Joseonjok diaspora, Itaewon with a dense population of foreigners, and industrial complexes near Seoul represent geographical otherness. In addition, multicultural spaces draw a line from non-multicultural spaces and create a culture and space of “their own.” Immigrants with a weak sense of place and loss of place fail to become the members of society(Koreans) and settle down. Dirty, dangerous, and fearful multicultural spaces neglected like garbage are located beyond the boundaries of the society, which makes the advent of true multicultural society a thing of distant future.