Decadent Resistance in Colonial Korea: Kim Tong-in’s Artistic Subversion in “Fire Sonata”

This essay reinterprets Kim Tong-in’s short story “Fire Sonata” (1929) within the framework of “lyo-colonial decadence,” proposing it as a subtle form of resistance to Japanese colonial rule. By merging Western decadence, Japanese diabolism, and indigenous Korean expressions, the narrative critiques colonial oppression and explores themes of madness, trauma, and artistic autonomy. Through Kim’s portrayal of morbid artistry, the essay highlights how Korean intellectuals used decadence to reclaim personal sovereignty and critique both Japanese and Western cultural hegemony. This study contributes to the global understanding of decadence, revealing its capacity to adapt and resist within colonized literary traditions.