GENDER REPRESENTATION IN THE NOVEL 'KIM JI-YOUNG, BORN IN 1982' AND ITS FILM ADAPTATION

Abstract

This work analyzes the discursive elements that permeate the narratives of the literary novel Kim Ji-young, Born in 1982 by Cho Nam-joo (2020) and its film adaptation (Kim, 2019). Both the novel and the film have become symbols of contemporary debates and social struggles related to gender equality in South Korea. Thus, the study considers that the adaptation process influences discursive choices and, consequently, the construction of meaning, while focusing on the representation of gender issues in South Korean society. In order to investigate the approaches and re-significations made by the works, qualitative bibliographical research was conducted, with the support of authors such as Linda Hutcheon (2006) on adaptation theory, as well as Cho Hae-joang (1995, 1998), Cho Hye-young (2024) and Cho and Song (2024) on the social and cultural structures that sustain sexism in the 21st century, especially in this context. Through this comparison, narrative, discursive and aesthetic aspects are associated with themes such as motherhood, work and mental health, to understand the dynamics of power and identity represented. The results show that each narrative, through its own language and resources, reinforces the discussion on the role and participation of women in both domestic and public spheres.