A Study on the Non-place in Kim Ae-ran's Works

This article analyzes the dual meaning of non-place in the context of neoliberal urbanization, using Kim Ae-ran's works. Non-places, which lack relationality, history, and identity, are embedded in modern urban life, such as transportation facilities, convenience stores, goshiwons, and subways. While previous studies often view non-places as spaces of alienation, this study reveals that non-places in Kim Ae-ran‘s works also offer complex and ambivalent experiences. The negative side of non-place appears in the alienation and breakdown of relationships. Characters in Kim Ae-ran's works, living in overcrowded spaces like boarding houses and goshiwons, struggle with isolation and a lack of meaningful connections. For example, in <The House That Doesn’t Knock>, indirect communication replaces direct relationships, highlighting the absence of trust. Similarly, in subways, characters face uncertainty about their existence and identity. These spaces fragment human relationships and life’s meaning. However, non-places also provide a new sense of freedom through solitude and anonymity. Characters escape the oppressive gaze of their hometowns and seek personal space in non-places. In <Prayer> the character desires to flee from the controlling gaze of their hometown, while in <I Go to the Convenience Store>, everyday acts like consumption offer a sense of rhythm and self-identity. In <Paper Fish>, the protagonist reclaims a rooftop room (a typical non-place) by filling it with post-it notes, turning it into a personal space. Non-places are neither purely spaces of alienation nor unconditionally liberating. Kim Ae-ran's works highlight how non-places simultaneously foster alienation and self-reflection. Non-places, while potentially threatening human existence, also challenge individuals to create meaning within the conditions of modern life. Therefore, non-place should be seen not just as negative or positive, but as a key concept for understanding the complexities of contemporary existence.