@article{ART003357329},
author={Kim Hyung Sik},
title={‘24/7 capitalism’ and the precariousness of the subject in the Film Sleep},
journal={Journal of Popular Narrative},
issn={1738-3188},
year={2026},
volume={32},
number={2},
pages={247-288},
doi={10.18856/jpn.2026.32.2.007}
TY - JOUR
AU - Kim Hyung Sik
TI - ‘24/7 capitalism’ and the precariousness of the subject in the Film Sleep
JO - Journal of Popular Narrative
PY - 2026
VL - 32
IS - 2
PB - The Association of Popular Narrative
SP - 247
EP - 288
SN - 1738-3188
AB - Getting enough sleep is essential for human survival and well-being. However, South Korea is a chronically sleep-deprived country, with one of the lowest sleep quality levels in the world. The film Sleep explores the precariousness of life in Korea through the lens of sleep disorders. The concept of “24/7 capitalism” refers to a system that operates without rest or interruption, expanding indefinitely. Within this system, individuals are left defenseless and vulnerable, unable to sleep properly and developing psychopathological symptoms.
The film’s two protagonists, Hyun-soo and Soo-jin, are both physically and mentally exhausted under 24/7 capitalism. Hyun-soo, a precarious theater actor, struggles with daily instability as he constantly changes jobs to make ends meet. His erratic sleep behaviors, including violent outbursts and self-harm, worsen as doctors focus on treating the symptoms rather than addressing the underlying cause. Soo-jin, driven by an obsession with success and the ideal of a “normal family,” pressures Hyun-soo under the guise of encouragement. She perceives his professional failure as a personal and familial failure, assuming the role of an enforcer who disciplines and represses him, even to the point of committing crimes.
Hyun-soo’s sleep disorder and their shared psychopathology manifest as symptoms of exhaustion and burnout under 24/7 capitalism. Seeking escape through illness proves futile in a system that denies any external refuge. In the end, they abandon their attempts to break free and return to the labor they have been conditioned to endure, resulting in only a temporary reprieve. This suggests that rather than holding individuals accountable for their suffering, we must reimagine possibilities beyond the constraints of 24/7 capitalism.
KW - 24/7 capitalism;subject;precariousness;ideology;illusion
DO - 10.18856/jpn.2026.32.2.007
ER -
Kim Hyung Sik. (2026). ‘24/7 capitalism’ and the precariousness of the subject in the Film Sleep. Journal of Popular Narrative, 32(2), 247-288.
Kim Hyung Sik. 2026, "‘24/7 capitalism’ and the precariousness of the subject in the Film Sleep", Journal of Popular Narrative, vol.32, no.2 pp.247-288. Available from: doi:10.18856/jpn.2026.32.2.007
Kim Hyung Sik "‘24/7 capitalism’ and the precariousness of the subject in the Film Sleep" Journal of Popular Narrative 32.2 pp.247-288 (2026) : 247.
Kim Hyung Sik. ‘24/7 capitalism’ and the precariousness of the subject in the Film Sleep. 2026; 32(2), 247-288. Available from: doi:10.18856/jpn.2026.32.2.007
Kim Hyung Sik. "‘24/7 capitalism’ and the precariousness of the subject in the Film Sleep" Journal of Popular Narrative 32, no.2 (2026) : 247-288.doi: 10.18856/jpn.2026.32.2.007
Kim Hyung Sik. ‘24/7 capitalism’ and the precariousness of the subject in the Film Sleep. Journal of Popular Narrative, 32(2), 247-288. doi: 10.18856/jpn.2026.32.2.007
Kim Hyung Sik. ‘24/7 capitalism’ and the precariousness of the subject in the Film Sleep. Journal of Popular Narrative. 2026; 32(2) 247-288. doi: 10.18856/jpn.2026.32.2.007
Kim Hyung Sik. ‘24/7 capitalism’ and the precariousness of the subject in the Film Sleep. 2026; 32(2), 247-288. Available from: doi:10.18856/jpn.2026.32.2.007
Kim Hyung Sik. "‘24/7 capitalism’ and the precariousness of the subject in the Film Sleep" Journal of Popular Narrative 32, no.2 (2026) : 247-288.doi: 10.18856/jpn.2026.32.2.007
