Reimagining the Waegwan with Settler Colonialism : Based on Bae Gil-nam's Dumopo Waegwan Investigation Record

It is not always necessary to describe the formation and development of contemporary Busan solely in connection with the nation-state's modernization process In this context, Bae Gil-Nam's Dumopo Waegwan Investigation Records is particularly noteworthy for drawing history of Busan from its pre-modern past. This study examines the novel's characteristics through the lens of settler colonialism, identifying the Waegwan as a focal point of conflict between the settler colonizers and the colonial government. While this conflict is predicated on the Waegwan's peripheral location, this very location was appropriated by the settler colonizers. Indigenous inhabitants who face displacement or expulsion share a gendered loyalty. In contrast, Misun, a female character who cannot assimilate into either the indigenous or settler communities, is depicted as possessing a higher degree of migratory capacity, capable of leaving the vicinity of the Waegwan at any time. Furthermore, the novel suggests that racialized knowledge production concerning the region historically existed, rooted in the Waegwan, and that local residents are empowered with the potential to produce counter-knowledge against such narratives. This endeavor not only explains local history from a different perspective and origin but also holds significant implications for contemporary discourses surrounding the region.