Social Issues in Shin Kyung-sook’s Novel “I Went to See my Father”

Abstract

This article examines how social issues such as poverty, historical upheavals, and
illness affect human psychology and the complexity of Korean family relationships in Shin
Kyung-sook's novel I went to see my father. The novel depicts psychological trauma, generational
gaps, and the challenging journey of family reconciliation. Through this analysis, the article
highlights that the novel's core values, including family love, understanding, and the effort to
reconnect, represent the strength that enables people to overcome both historical and everyday
traumas, thus highlighting the extraordinary self-healing ability of Korean people.