Memoir of a Murderer

a Korean novel by Young-ha Kim

: Production Design Workshop II, Hongik University (2021)

Time : 2010s

Place : Namyangju, Korea

Genre : Mystery, Thriller

Synopsis

A former serial killer with Alzheimer's fights to protect his daughter from her psychotic boyfriend.

Byung-soo was a serial killer and a veterinarian.

He has a secret memoir recounting his killings, stating he killed them because

"they deserved to die for their atrocities."

His first victim was his father, who was abusing the rest of his family.

He explains that he buried his victims in the bamboo forest.

Byung-soo has one family member, his daughter Eun-hee, who deeply cares for him.

She gives him a tape recorder to record his activities to remember them.

To protect Eun-hee, he fights to keep his memory and he plans to kill Tae-joo, who is a local policeman,

and her new boyfriend. However, it becomes apparent that his memories may not be as reliable.

Characters

Byung-soo (55)

A serial killer, a veterinarian.

Now he suffers from Alzheimer's disease and tries to

remember things about who killed local women and tries to protect his daughter.

Tae-joo (30)

A mysterious local policeman who dates Eun-hee.

Eun-hee (24)

Byung-soo's daughter.

A university student.

Byung-soo's House

Mood

Monotonous / Restraint / Dry / Cold / Exquisite / Minimalistic / Modern / Marble

Exterior

I expected Byung-soo to live in a sophisticated house with a curved shape.

He will live in a deserted area where other people can't see well because he has to commit kidnap and murder.

1st floor

The first floor of the house is open, as paradoxically demonstrates his secrets.

The living room has a large window so he can see people near his house.

Cold lighting was used to show his frigid personality.

Byung-soo records the murder he committed on the computer at his study.

Behind the study, he can see bamboo trees growing from the secret bamboo garden.

2nd floor

Flow of the murder

1st floor

2nd floor

This is a picture showing the movement of Byung-soo kidnapping the victims to his house and killing them.

First, the victim is anesthetized and laid on the sofa on the first floor. The victim wakes up and tries to run away through the main door, only to find out the door is locked. The victim goes up the stairs leading to the second floor. On the second floor, he/she tries to hide himself/herself. They will eventually go to the secret bamboo garden through the stairs hidden behind the powder room after going through the bedroom and powder room.

His house is gray and white-toned, cold and perfect, even though it is a space for everyday life.

There are many layers on the second floor, which is intended to throw the victim into confusion.

Most of the flooring and walls are marble, and also there are many marble statues.

Secret Bamboo Garden

Reference

Bamboo / Cube / Grid / Secret / Hidden / Thick fog

I turned the bamboo forest in the original novel where Byung-soo committed murders into an indoor secret garden.

Countless bodies he killed are buried in this garden. Beautiful flowers and plants grew on them.

Shining boxes display the remains of the victims he killed. This is his own 'museum'.

The geometric figures contrasted with the wildly blooming flowers add the bizarreness.

The tallest bamboo is grown at a height that is a total of three floors, passing through the study on the first floor

and behind the powder room on the second floor.