Against the Chains of Utility

The 1970s and 1980s were pivotal decades in South Korea, marked by rapid industrialization and urbanization. The language of sacrifice was constantly employed by the developmental state to justify its exploitation of workers and violation of countless civil rights as necessary for the nation’s economic growth and security. As a counter to this prevailing rhetoric, a rich variety of literary texts emerged to capture moments of anti-utilitarian sacrifice, including Kim Hyŏn's critical essays, Pak