괴기에서 웃음으로-도시 전설 <빨간 마스크>의 변용 사례와 그 의미

Abstract

This paper introduces a case in which the urban legend “Red Mask” was newly enjoyed in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and reveals the meaning of this case. For discussion, “[Jal-Tun Original] Red Mask” and the short film “Red Mask KF94,” enjoyed on YouTube, were analyzed. “Red Mask” was perceived as a ghost story, causing anxiety and fear in elementary school students through a tale of a woman wearing a red mask and harming children alone on the street at night. On the other hand, “[Jal-Tun Original] Red Mask” and “Red Mask KF94” show that a woman who reappeared in the COVID-19 pandemic failed to communicate with people, was unaware of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the changing function of the mask, and her power as a ghost was weakened. As a result, the woman fails to harm the children, and this failure is repeated. In this process, laughter is triggered. This laughter provides a sense of freedom, indicating that the woman who was the object of fear in “Red Mask” is no longer a scary object. At the same time, it provides a temporary emotional release from the frustration and tension caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. These changes show that the ghost story “Red Mask,” which was formed based on Japanese monster culture, was absorbed into the influence of traditional Korean stories, transforming the character, narrative structure, and the enjoyment of the story. It is also timely in that it reveals how urban legends change in conjunction with the experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic in the era of new media.