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A Study on Mun Yun Seong’s 『Complete Society』 (1967) - Focused on features as a SF and reflection of ruling ideology

이숙 1

1전주대학교

Candidate

ABSTRACT

This study discusses Mun Yun Seong’s Complete Society (1967) which is known as the first genuine science fiction (SF) in Korea. Its pioneering aspects were emphasized many times, but studies have been hardly conducted for it. Thereupon, this article examines the work focusing on its features as a science fiction, popularity, political aspects, and also satire. Author Mun Yun Seong used “extrapolation”, one of the meta-methods for science fiction to be equipped with genuine features as a science fiction. In the field of literature during the 1960’s, Complete Society is not only related with the other works but differentiated from them as well. First of all,the author chose the genre of science fiction and showed that he had internalized anti-Communist ideology, the ruling ideology of that time. As a selection in the competition of a weekly magazine, Complete Society also reflects the limitations of media and also patriarchal ideology mingled in it. However, what the author really wanted to say that was to give hope and encouragement to the readers and public dreaming of Utopia and to recognize the absurdity of reality. Concretely speaking, the work deals with the criticism about technopia (science civilization), criticism on politicians and the totalitarian system, and criticism on sexual issues. Therefore, the satire shown in 『Complete Society』 leads to critical meditation on the uniform and violent structure of that time through the view of Yu Sun Gu, the main character, who is the deputy of the real author and also implied author.

Citation status

* References for papers published after 2023 are currently being built.