What is the setting in the novel, Human Acts?

Gwangju, South Korea in the year, 1980, is the novel’s primary setting. This is where the Gwangju Uprising takes place, and is characterized by intense violence and tension between the citizens and the military government. The novel explores various locations throughout the city, including Dong-ho’s home and the main square where protests frequently occur. The Provincial Office is a key building in the novel. Here, Dong-ho, Eun-sook, and Seon-ju tend to the corpses. Later, the military invades the building and kills Dong-ho. The author also includes dramatic and violent scenes from the prison and the factory where Seon-ju works.