Beyond the Supercrip Narrative - Narrative Strategies for Overcoming Otherness in Korean Films Created (or Directed) by Disabled Filmmakers

The representation of people with disabilities in Korean cinema has long been defined from non-disabled perspectives, particularly through supercrip narratives that position disability as an object of overcoming or emotional inspiration. This study explores the potential of films produced or directed by people with disabilities since 2010 to break away from conventional supercrip narratives and deconstruct the boundaries of otherness. The research employs a newly proposed otherness-based narrative analysis framework to examine three films: Building Bridges(2010), Welfare Restaurant (2022), and The Sound of Pooping (2024). The analysis framework consists of six elements: agency of discourse, disability representation methods, spatial arrangement, relational structures, narrative development, and strategies for overcoming otherness. The findings reveal that films produced by people with disabilities grant complete agency of discourse to disabled characters, representing disability as a natural part of identity rather than an object of overcoming. Additionally, disabled characters are positioned at the center of public spaces, and the narrative structure departs from traditional conflict-resolution frameworks to embrace non-linear storytelling that emphasizes coexistence and mutual understanding. This research suggests that films created from the perspective of people with disabilities constitute significant cultural practices that extend beyond mere representational improvement and expand to include the inclusivity and diversity of the cinematic medium itself.