KJCKorea
Journal Central

This study compares the portrayal of the April 3rd incident in the <Unfolded> game series with its representation in Korean literature. Literary works typically highlight the "purity" of victims to underscore state violence, link the incident to the present, employ coming-of-age novel tropes, and use vernacular elements to create distance. These narratives often omit the history of popular protests and anti-imperialism related to April 3rd. In contrast, <Unfolded: The Camellia Story> offers an immersive experience of the tragedy. While featuring a character reminiscent of Yun Tongchu, a symbol of the "pure victim," and adhering to coming-of-age motifs, the game's use of vernacular elements is minimal. This approach facilitates a more straightforward conveyance of historical facts. The game also depicts April 3rd more comprehensively by including characters with anti-imperialist views and aspects of the preceding popular protests. However, it stops short of fully exploring the "pure victim" concept or the incident's complexity. The final, catastrophic series conclusion may account for why the series remains unfinished. This paper analyzes the game series "Unfolded," which deals in depth with the events of April 3rd. By comparing it with existing Korean literature on April 3rd, the paper highlights its significance and limitations.

Korean April 3rd Literature, Korean game, Yun Tongchu, social impact game, Han Kang