Abstract

This article examines the representation of queerness in 2010s’ Korean literature, showcasing a significant shift from prior depictions of queer subjects as symbols of deviance to embodiment of critical resistance against social norms. It posits queerness as a performative act, one that not only challenges established identities but also questions societal constructs. The concept of queer failure is reinterpreted as a subversive stance against normative definitions of success, proposing that failure itself can be a form of critique and expression of queerness. Through analyzing fictions by Park Min-jung and Park Sang Young, this article highlights how irony serves as a central narrative strategy, allowing for a multifaceted portrayal of queerness that both reveals and disrupts. This irony facilitates a deeper engagement with the texts, prompting readers to confront and reinterpret the conventional narratives around identity and societal integration. This article suggests that the ironic representation of queerness and failure contribute to a re-envisioning of social structures, proposing the potential for a queer utopia that extends beyond the confines of current societal limitations.