Three literature pieces that may give you insight into modern days of Korea.

There are many Korean historical novels and novel writers throughout Korean history. There are those who have created pieces of literature that allow us to have a view of the historical period while also still being important topics that affect us today.

Na Hye-sok was a poet and a writer who was born in 1896. She not only participated in the March 1st Movement but wrote her book Gyunghee in 1918. She discusses womanhood in this novel as the main protagonist is a woman who was educated in Japan and has returned back to her home in Korea. She has to face not only her gender role of being a woman but how she is also educated and breaking away from the norm. The novel shows us Korea’s historical past while also discussing the fighting spirit the new women in Korea had.

The novel The Heartless was written by Yi Kwang-su. He was one of the first writers of modern Korean literature. It is a story of drama regarding a sort of love triangle between the three main characters. Yi Hyeong-sik, a young man of academia teaching in Seoul. Kim Son-Hyeong is a woman from a wealthy Christian family and his old childhood friend Pak Yeong-chae who due to unforeseen life disasters has become a Kisaeng. It is a story that discusses in depth Confucian ideals and how it affects society, as well as how modernity was affecting the way of thought, lives, the new women at this time. It touches upon national identity and many other deep meanings. It is a great novel to learn about modern Korean history.

Into the Light by Kim Sa-ryang is a great novel to look into how the Japanese imperialization of Korea affected  the youth. There is the main character Nam and he has to overcome his own struggle with his Korean identity as well as living under the oppression. Alongside him is a boy named Haruo who is mixed Japanese and Korean. To witness a boy not older than 10 struggling with who he is because of the amount of hatred there was at the time is difficult, but the ending as the title states gives a new light of hope.

There are many novels that fall under the new form of Modern Korean literature. Previous literature to this time was heavily based in Confucianism as well as taking much influence from China and Japan. These novels as well as others from this time truly connect with so many people while also still being an educational window to learn about Korea’s past. The past connects us to our present and future. If you have time it would be great to read these books for leisure or for educational purposes.

 

 

Written by: Samantha Garcia. From New York , United States . Current 4th year student at John Jay college of Criminal Justice .Pursing an International Criminal Justice B.A and a minor in Psychology. Intern at VANK (Voluntary Agency Network of Korea)