How did the Korean Artist Proletariat Federation view the role of literature?

The Korean Artist Proletariat Federation (KAPF), which was organized in 1925, held a distinct view of the purpose of writing during the colonial period. Members of this class-conscious organization asserted the importance of propaganda and regarded literature primarily as a tool or means to establish socialism.1

By focusing on the struggles of the lower classes, particularly those facing poverty in Korea and in settlements within southern Manchuria, these writers actively opposed the romantic and "decadent" literary trends of their time. Their work was characterized by a commitment to social and political objectives, which stood in contrast to other artistic movements that prioritized aesthetic or individualistic expression.1