한국전쟁으로 실향한 여성노인의 장소상실에 관한 생애사 연구

Abstract

War brings a sudden shock and ordeal to ordinary people, undermines human life, and leaves behind scars and losses. This study aimed to investigate in depth the placelessness of an old woman who lost her hometown due to the Korean War, and holistically examine the significance of her life journey through a study of her life history. After carefully selecting an old woman in her late 80s who was displaced by the Korean War, data were collected through 15 in-depth interview sessions with the participant. The analyses of the oral data were conducted using Mandelbaum’s (1973) three-dimensional framework. After identifying the significances inherent in the participant’s perception and experience, it was found that the ‘dimensions’ were considered ‘my hometown to which I can no longer go back’; the ‘turning points’ were ‘my home was destroyed by the war’; the ‘adaptation’ was ‘a life full of suffering and sickness in a new place.’ This study and its findings resonate the significance of the notion of placelessness due to war, and discussions are made on related topics to emphasize the importance of reconsidering the historical value of the life story of an old woman who lost her hometown during the Korean War; the research also underpins the uniqueness of this particular population. The significance of the study lies in its reconstruction of the life history of the old woman who underwent the Korean War, and its provision of insights into the notion of placelessness from the perspective of a person who was displaced.