A Little Change in Point of View Makes Life Better Adolescent Behavior Modification from “Me” to “Giving” to Others

Abstract

          This article was written with the aim of studying the Korean young adult fictional story, “Come! I’ll Help You,” which is the work of Han Sangbok translated by Soontree Larprungrun.  Come!  I’ll Help You is Korean young-adult fiction that presents the characteristics and behavior of Korean young adults in terms of emotional disorders in the first chapter before learning about living with other people in order to grow into a good adult. The findings of this study revealed that the main character in this young-adult fiction is Wi Yena or Yena, a self-centered girl until she learns about the lives of the people around her such as her exhausted mother, friends in a volunteer group, school friends and teachers. Eventually, she understands the meaning of the term “giving” to others and its mental value.  The important thing is that this young adult fiction does not tell only the picture of how Yena has to give up her selfishness in order to give to others. The author of this literature also inserted the behaviors of other characters to show that selfishness is in every area, class and age. Therefore, this young adult fiction is not only valuable in terms of its presentation of children’s behaviors in becoming selfish to the point of forgetting other people, but also as a place to tell that even adults can engage is selfish behavior.