Psychoanalytical Criticism in Korean Literature: A Study of Trauma, Repression, And Desire in Han Kang’s Novels

Abstract

This study employs psychoanalytical criticism to examine selected works by South Korean novelist Han Kang, with a particular emphasis on The Vegetarian and Human Acts. Utilizing Freudian and Lacanian psychoanalytic theories, the research investigates the underlying motivations, traumatic experiences, and suppressed emotions in Kang's characters. The analysis explores how these psychological aspects mirror both personal challenges and wider social issues in post-war South Korea. By uncovering the intricate relationships between personal identity, trauma, and desire, this study offers a novel interpretation of Kang's literature that goes beyond conventional readings. The paper enhances the expanding body of research on modern Korean literature by presenting a psychoanalytic framework that deepens our comprehension of Han Kang's critique of societal norms and historical trauma.