@article{ART002525374},
author={Bong Gwan Jun},
title={Feminizing of Real Estate Speculation—A Study on the Bokbuin in the Korean Narratives in 1970s~1980s},
journal={Journal of Popular Narrative},
issn={1738-3188},
year={2019},
volume={25},
number={4},
pages={321-359},
doi={10.18856/jpn.2019.25.4.011}
TY - JOUR
AU - Bong Gwan Jun
TI - Feminizing of Real Estate Speculation—A Study on the Bokbuin in the Korean Narratives in 1970s~1980s
JO - Journal of Popular Narrative
PY - 2019
VL - 25
IS - 4
PB - The Association of Popular Narrative
SP - 321
EP - 359
SN - 1738-3188
AB - In the 1970s, the full-scale development of the area now known as Gangnam began, ushering in the era of real estate investment on apartments which transformed housing styles in Korea. Apartments were pitched as the most ideal type of housing, creating a competitive market of high demand and skyrocketing prices. The apartments were also viewed as a means of quick asset investment among middle-class Koreans. Within this apartment frenzy stood the female real estate speculator, the bokbuin.
This study seeks to locate the bokbuin in the real estate development market after the late 1970s. The apartment speculation boom cannot be attributed to the bokbuin alone, yet she became the target of public anger and criticism, singled-out as being responsible for fueling illegal and unethical investments. The apartment boom of the 1970s was in fact generated in large part by the government, developers, construction companies and realtors. While their pursuit of profit was deemed as legitimate, the bokbuin’s conduct was mostly tainted by presumed illegitimate and greedy motivations. This study problematizes this gendering of real estate investment and treat the bokbuin as a byproduct of the family-centered culture in East Asia.
Analyzing Im Kwon Taek’s film “Mrs. Speculator”, Park Ki Won’s conte, “Bokbuin”, Park Wan Seo’s short story, “Children of Paradise”, “The People of Seoul”, this study shows that bokbuin’s pursuit was not hers alone; it was the collective pursuit with her husband for the enhancement of family finances. This study argue that the bokbuin embodied the thickly misogynistic climate of the 1970s that projected the chaotic rise of greed onto the woman.
KW - bokbuin;apartment speculation;feminizing speculation;misogyny;Im Kwon Taek;Park Wan Seo
DO - 10.18856/jpn.2019.25.4.011
ER -
Bong Gwan Jun. (2019). Feminizing of Real Estate Speculation—A Study on the Bokbuin in the Korean Narratives in 1970s~1980s. Journal of Popular Narrative, 25(4), 321-359.
Bong Gwan Jun. 2019, "Feminizing of Real Estate Speculation—A Study on the Bokbuin in the Korean Narratives in 1970s~1980s", Journal of Popular Narrative, vol.25, no.4 pp.321-359. Available from: doi:10.18856/jpn.2019.25.4.011
Bong Gwan Jun "Feminizing of Real Estate Speculation—A Study on the Bokbuin in the Korean Narratives in 1970s~1980s" Journal of Popular Narrative 25.4 pp.321-359 (2019) : 321.
Bong Gwan Jun. Feminizing of Real Estate Speculation—A Study on the Bokbuin in the Korean Narratives in 1970s~1980s. 2019; 25(4), 321-359. Available from: doi:10.18856/jpn.2019.25.4.011
Bong Gwan Jun. "Feminizing of Real Estate Speculation—A Study on the Bokbuin in the Korean Narratives in 1970s~1980s" Journal of Popular Narrative 25, no.4 (2019) : 321-359.doi: 10.18856/jpn.2019.25.4.011
Bong Gwan Jun. Feminizing of Real Estate Speculation—A Study on the Bokbuin in the Korean Narratives in 1970s~1980s. Journal of Popular Narrative, 25(4), 321-359. doi: 10.18856/jpn.2019.25.4.011
Bong Gwan Jun. Feminizing of Real Estate Speculation—A Study on the Bokbuin in the Korean Narratives in 1970s~1980s. Journal of Popular Narrative. 2019; 25(4) 321-359. doi: 10.18856/jpn.2019.25.4.011
Bong Gwan Jun. Feminizing of Real Estate Speculation—A Study on the Bokbuin in the Korean Narratives in 1970s~1980s. 2019; 25(4), 321-359. Available from: doi:10.18856/jpn.2019.25.4.011
Bong Gwan Jun. "Feminizing of Real Estate Speculation—A Study on the Bokbuin in the Korean Narratives in 1970s~1980s" Journal of Popular Narrative 25, no.4 (2019) : 321-359.doi: 10.18856/jpn.2019.25.4.011