Lee Il-cheol's File

Lee Il-cheol's file is symbolic of his unchangeable place in society - that of a "hostile element," an enemy of the state (27). This designation was due to Lee Il-cheol's fathers' actions, supposedly sabotaging his farm at the beginning of Socialist collectivization. His father was killed for his crime and the family was sent into exile. When Myung-ok receives the file, it is the summation of all her greatest fears for her husband and the future of their family. The stamped seal on the file appears ominous to her - like an "iron brand...used to brand slaves" (28). With Lee Il-cheol's designation, they will never be free in North Korea.

Myung-ok's Contraceptives

The contraceptives that Il-cheol finds symbolize the Party's extreme interference in the couple's lives. A wedge is nearly driven between them because of the suspicion and shame Il-cheol feels after making this discovery...