Chiyeon Hwang

Dissertation Abstract: Pak Hwa-sŏng’s (1903-1988) literary contribution as a writer is valuable in understanding the narratives and position of women in both colonial and postcolonial Korea. My dissertation examines Pak’s stories that embody central themes of working-class women’s issues and address problems that emerged with modernization during Japan’s occupation of Korea, particularly the labor and exploitation of women. By understanding the time and place in which her works were produced, I assert that Pak’s gradual transformation through different political periods significantly reveals her position—both as a woman and a writer—on issues regarding feminism under colonial occupation and socialist patriarchy. These new understandings problematize Korean male authors’ acceptance of Pak as a “socialist writer” into their male-dominant literary circle by superficial evaluation and tokenism of Pak, and also demonstrate the extent to which her writings challenge beyond the literary boundaries they set for her. This research encompasses the ethical aspect of accurately recovering silenced voices and understanding various forms of subjugation and entrapment women experienced between colonialism and socialist patriarchy at the time.