In Trace of Realities: Hauntology in Lee Kkoch-Nim’ s Killing Your Friend

Abstract

Abstract

This article aims to analyze how reality is represented in Killing My Friend, a juvenile novel by Lee Kkoch-nim by leveraging the concept of Hauntology and Deconstruction proposed by Jacques Derrida. The study asserts that, as it appears in the form of a detective story, the novel presents truth as something relative, shaped by personal experiences, biases, and memories. Various narrators and perspectives are used to prove that reality is not an isolated phenomenon, but is a fruit of memories and the past influences that recur and intersect in the present.  Moreover, the author skillfully employs these literary strategies to criticize the cultural violence embedded in Korean society, particularly regarding educational achievement and the pervasive system of “Jeong”. This environment imposes significant pressure on Korean youth, highlighting the urgent need for critical examination.