The Representation of Literacy in Korean Drama Twenty-Five Twenty-One (2022)

Abstract

Literacy is no longer understood merely as the ability to read and write, but rather as a social practice embedded in social, cultural, and historical contexts. This perspective is reflected in the Korean drama Twenty-Five Twenty-One (2022), which portrays various literacy practices as part of everyday life and character development. This study aims to analyze the representation of literacy in the drama through the concepts of literacy as power, literacy as danger, and literacy as individualism, as well as to examine how these literacy practices contribute to the character development of Na Hee-do. This study employs a qualitative approach using textual analysis. The data source for this study is the television drama Twenty-Five Twenty-One, consisting of sixteen episodes, while the research data consists of scenes, dialogues, monologues, written texts, visual symbols, and digital communication, all of which were purposively selected in accordance with the research focus. The analysis was conducted using the New Literacy Studies framework by Barton and Hamilton (1998) as well as the concept of literacy representation by Williams and Zenger (2007). The results indicate that literacy as power is represented through written texts that regulate behavior and shape social relationships; literacy as danger arises from the interpretation of texts and symbols not supported by an adequate social context; and literacy as individualism is reflected in the practice of keeping a diary as a means of self-reflection, emotional expression, and identity formation. Furthermore, literacy practices contribute to Na Hee-do’s character development, both personally and professionally, through processes of self-reflection, emotional regulation, increased discipline, resilience, and identity formation. Thus, this study concludes that literacy in Twenty-Five Twenty-One functions not only as the ability to read and write but also as a social practice that enables individuals to construct meaning, negotiate relationships, and shape their identities in everyday life.