Locked (2022) — Seo HyunJin

LOCKED

Picture Book
Seoul, Korea, 2022

<The Unpublished Picturebook Showcase 4> longlisted project.

<Locked> is a storybook illustrating the enduring impact of domestic violence on a child, spanning from childhood to adulthood.

Based on the 2020 WHO statistical survey, it is disheartening to note that every year, 74% of abused children are forced to return to the very spaces where they endured maltreatment. Growing familiar with locked doors and wandering the cold streets, these children find themselves back in the 'House of Terror.' As they grow into adulthood, one may wonder if they will become adept at locking away their emotions, having become accustomed to rejection and neglect.

This book serves as a poignant representation, using the metaphor of locked doors, to portray the physical and emotional scars borne by children who have suffered from abuse during their formative years. It is my heartfelt desire that through this narrative, the awareness and understanding of child abuse would rise among readers. By shedding light on the painful journey of these young souls, the book aims to foster empathy, compassion, and a collective commitment to protect and support vulnerable children, thereby creating a world where child abuse becomes a thing of the past.