Abstract
Division trauma is marked by traits specific to the Korean context, including extreme ideological polarization and a complex mix of superiority and inferiority. Our research introduces the concept of “mourning communities” as a framework for collective healing. It synthesizes the psychoanalytic theory of mourning with Turner’s notion of Communitas, understood here as an evolving mode of social engagement. While previous studies have attributed division trauma to the collapse of the “Nation≠State” caused by colonial rule and the Korean War, they have not fully accounted for its enduring impact on Korean society. We argue that division trauma was internalized within the context of divided political circumstances and shaped as a defense mechanism against the anxiety over survival. Healing division trauma, we propose, requires fostering Communitas, which enables solidarity and mutual recognition. This study seeks to pave the way for healing division trauma by shifting from an “Event-Symptom-Adaptation” to an “Event-Mourning-Community Healing” framework.
Recommended Citation
Seok, Kim and Jong Gon, Kim
(2025)
"Korean Division Trauma and Mourning Communities,"
Kritika Kultura:
No.
48, Article 6.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.13185/1656-152X.2202
Available at:
https://archium.ateneo.edu/kk/vol1/iss48/6
