Literature through psychology and colors: the cases of Han Kang and Jeong You Jeong

This study explores the intersection of psychology, memory, and color symbolism in the works of two renowned South Korean authors, Han Kang and Jeong You Jeong. Drawing on theories by Carl Jung, Katie Glaskin, and Sigmund Skard, the article investigates how literature becomes a vehicle for psychological inquiry, especially through the symbolic use of colors to evoke trauma, identity, and memory. Through textual analysis of The White Book by Han Kang and Seven Years of Darkness and The Good Son by Jeong You Jeong, the research highlights how white and red function not merely as visual elements but as narrative devices deeply connected to cultural and psychological dimensions. Han Kang’s use of white embodies mourning and renewal, while Jeong’s use of red delves into primal instincts and repressed violence. The article underscores the unique contributions of Korean women’s literature to global literary discourse and reveals how symbolic color use shapes character development, emotional resonance, and the reader’s understanding of human consciousness.