An epilogue is a section at the end of a book that offers reflection or closure after the main story has ended. It can take many forms—sometimes it's a continuation that reveals what happened to the characters later, other times it's a shift in perspective that encourages readers to reconsider the events of the narrative in a new light. Rather than simply tying up loose ends, an epilogue often deepens the meaning of the story, prompting readers to reflect on broader themes, lingering questions, or emotional consequences. It’s a space where the emotional or philosophical aftermath of the narrative can unfold, sometimes more contemplative or distanced than the rest of the text. As you read the epilogue in this work, consider why the writer chose to end the book this way, what new insights it offers, and how it might reshape your understanding of what came before.

The Epilogue of Human Acts shifts to Han Kang’s own voice in 2013, where she reflects on her experience of survivor’s guilt and her journey to uncover the real stories behind the Gwangju Uprising. By inserting her personal narrative into the novel, Han Kang uses a technique known as historiographic metafiction — a style of writing that deliberately blurs the line between historical fact and fiction. Historiographic metafiction draws attention to the way all histories are constructed, reminding readers that what we know about the past is often shaped by memory, bias, and omission. In the Epilogue, Han does not simply recount events; she questions the possibility of fully representing trauma and truth, suggesting that any retelling is necessarily incomplete. This technique forces readers to think critically about how history is recorded and who gets to tell it, while also honouring the subjective, fragmented nature of memory in the aftermath of violence.