최근 한국전쟁 소설의 확장과 변모

Abstract

Despite the fact that Korean War fictions are published almost every year, the works are hardly scrutinized and are little known. This paper examines several recent Korean War fictions and explores their diverse themes and characteristics, which distinguish themselves from earlier Korean War fictions in the 1950s and 60s. In I Am the Clay and Hope in Hungnam, the Korean women characters emerge as dignified and sympathetic protagonists. Korean history and culture are also well explored. Both novels emphasize the characters’ strong possibility of redemption by revealing their humanity and charity under unbearable circumstances. They also characterize women’s voice, which has been repressed in the war narratives. Battle Songs delves into violent American culture in a mining town near Pittsburgh and its relationship to the Korean War. In addition, the novel reveals the futility of war, with scenes in which American soldiers kill each other. As such, the work is juxtaposed to the Vietnam War narrative, Deer Hunter and Platoon, in particular. War Babies is unique in its dealing with the children of prisoners of war, their struggle against the legacy of their fathers, and the evil nature of human beings. Its characters continue to be bewildered and even frustrated at the end of the narrative whereas the works above focus on redemption and healing. It implies that the troubling legacy of the POWs are too deeply embedded in the American society to rub out yet. It is noteworthy that these novels are created by non-Korean War veterans and their imaginary writing significantly contributes to enriching Korean War literature.