Kim Gi-rim, a representative Modernist in 1930’s, is considered a poet who actively responded to modernized culture through his poetry theory and works. In his poems and essays, department stores or Streets in Gyeongseong(京城) often appear. These places have been key subjects to study his viewpoint of modern culture. There are other places used to depict a modernized city in his works. For example, Gwanghwamun(光化門) and Gwanghwamuntong(光化門通), which appear in his poems, show the circumstances in Gyeongseong at the time the poems were written. These subjects give clues to analyze how he sees the situation in Gyeongseong at that time. This is because Gwanghwamun and its neighborhood is one of the iconic places which show the changes of Gyeongseong from the capital city of Joseon(朝鮮) Dynasty to Japanese colony. In 1926, the Japanese Government-General of Joseon was constructed in Gyeongbok Palace(景福宮), and as a result, Gwanghwamun was moved to other place. This is a symbolic incident which means the Joseon Dynasty waned and Japanese Imperialism occupied Korea. The word ‘tong(通)’ which is one of Japanese style place names shows the change of the situation in Gyeongseong.
Therefore, Gwanghwamun and Gwanghwamuntong, which appear in Yuram Bus(「遊覽?스」, Sightseeing Bus), Gwanghwamuntong(「光化門通」, Gwanghwamun Street) and Jeya(「除夜」, New Year’s Eve), functions as a spatial background to illustrate the situation in Gyeongseong at that time. While Kim is depicting these places, Kim hid his criticism on Koreans who forget the history of Joseon under the influence of Japanese Imperialism. This criticism is related to the reality at that time when Gwanghwamun was dissembled and moved. When it comes to describing Gwanghwamun, Kim shows different aspect compared to description of Department store or streets in Gyeongseong. Gwanghwamun is described as a place where people of various statuses can be seen. It is also portrayed as a place where the life in a colonized country can be seen. This kind of description is different from that in his other works, which criticize citizens who indulge in consumption and hedonism.
Kim’s sensibility to the places in his works is considered to be naturally occured as he experienced the situation at that time. For instance, his sensibilities on Gwanghwamun reveals the historic fact that Gyeongseong was reorganized by Japanese Government. This is distinctive feature compared to his description of places in his other works.