THE PSYCHOLOGICAL DEPICTION OF CHARACTERS IN THE NOVEL OUR HAPPY TIME BY SOUTH KOREAN WRITER KONG JI-YOUNG

Abstract

This scholarly article is devoted to the artistic and psychological analysis of the portrayal of adolescence in the novel Our Happy Moments by the South Korean writer Kon Jiyon. Using the lives of the main characters—Mun Yujon and Chon Yunsu—as an example, it deeply explores the long-term impact of severe traumatic experiences during adolescence on personal identity, emotional development, and mental state. The article analyzes the adolescent period not merely as a biographical episode but as a decisive stage in the psychological formation of the protagonists. An interdisciplinary approach combining trauma psychology, developmental psychology, literary studies, and cultural studies is employed. Gon Jiyon’s novel addresses urgent themes such as psychological trauma, emotional isolation, gender roles, societal pressure, religious values, and social inequality within the context of adolescent experience. Through literary devices characteristic of psychological realism—such as retrospective narration, interior monologue, and stream of consciousness—the author brings readers closer to the inner experiences of the characters. The article also reveals the social and moral burden of adolescence, drawing attention to critical issues of mental health, gender equality, and personal development in society through literary and psychological analysis. This study highlights the unique aesthetic and social significance of Kon Jiyon’s novel and contributes scientifically to the artistic interpretation of the adolescent phenomenon within contemporary Korean literature.