20th Century Korean Literature (1900-1945)

20th Century Korean Literature

• Focuses on 20th-century Korean literature, specifically from 1900 to 1945.

The Rise of Modern Literature (1900-1945)

• Socio-Political Transformations: Korea transitioned from the Choson dynasty to a modern society. Resistance to modernization arose from traditionalists, and external pressure from China, Russia, and Japan. Japan annexed Korea in 1910.
• Colonial Rule & Resistance: Japan's repressive colonial system triggered the March 1st Independence Movement (1919). Korean intellectuals used literature and education to resist.
• Cultural Suppression During War: Japan imposed strict control over Korean identity during World War II, banning the Korean language and forcing the adoption of Japanese names. Liberation occurred in 1945.
• Development of Modern Korean Literature: Korean script and newspapers emerged in the late 19th century, expanding literacy. Modern literature reflected shifts in individuality and societal change. Yi Kwangsu's "The Heartless" (1917) marked a turning point in Korean fiction.

Two Moderns: Yi Kwangsu (이광수)

• Historical Context: Japan annexed Korea in 1910, ending its sovereignty. Intellectuals advocated for modernization to revitalize Korea.
• Enlightenment Thinker: Saw literature as a tool for enlightening people. Advocated reform of outdated traditions and social institutions. Stressed individuality, free love, and modern education. Major works: "The Heartless", "Young Sacrifice".
• The Heartless (무정, 1917): First modern Korean novel entirely written in Korean. Explores a love triangle involving modern and traditional women, tensions between traditional values and modern ideas of free will and individuality, liberation of women etc.

Two Moderns: Kim Tong-in(김동인)

• Opposition to Enlightenment Literature: Rejected the idea that literature should teach a lesson or reflect reality. Viewed fiction as an act of artistic creation, a "created world". Emphasized the autonomy of literature as art, focusing on aestheticism. An innovator of modern Korean narrative techniques, highlighting the past tense and third-person narrator.
• Themes in Kim Tong-in's Works: His works often reflect the tragedy of modern life with a detached tone. Explored social taboos, such as sexual desires outside societal norms.

Elegies for a Lost Era: Kim Sowöl(김소월)

• Historical Context: Following Japan's annexation of Korea in 1910, the 1920s saw increased oppression and profound national loss. Korean poetry often reflected the sorrow of losing homeland and identity through personal loss and unfulfilled love.
• Kim Sowöl (김소월, 1902-1934)'s Themes: Explored yearning and loss, reflecting the collective sorrow of the Korean people. Utilizes familiar folk rhythms and imagery, evoking national identity through intimate and relatable language.
• Key Work: "Azaleas" (진달래): A poem expressing love and loss, using natural imagery to symbolize emotional and national separation.

Elegies for a Lost Era: Han Yong-un(한용운)

• Background: A poet and Buddhist monk, Han Yong-un infused his poetry with themes of silence, love, and resistance. Known for meditative, nationalist, and metaphysical poetry that addressed issues of both love and national loss.
• Key Work: "The Silence of Love" (1926): Describes love's departure, with hope for reunion. Explores loss, sorrow, and the paradox of love growing stronger through separation.
• Poetic Style: Combined Buddhist meditation with the struggle for Korean independence. Used "love" in poetry to symbolize both a human lover and the Korean nation under colonial rule, creating multiple levels of meaning in his poems. Emphasized silence and resilience; linking personal love to the nation's struggle for independence; and was infused with both romantic and nationalist themes.

Social Consciousness and the Rise of Realist Fiction

• Yom Sangsop (염상섭, 1897-1963): Known for detailed characterization and everyday life depictions, emphasizing literature as a separate art form. Key works include "Before Manse" (1922) and "Three Generations" (1931).
• Ch’ae Mansik (채만식, 1902-1956): A master satirist who exposed the contradictions of Korea's colonial reality, critiquing greed, moral decay, and societal contradictions under Japanese rule. Key works include "Peace Under Heaven" (1938), "Murky Waters" (1938) and "A Ready-made Life" (1934).

Colonial Pastorals: Rural Sketches in Times of Oppression

• Background: In the 1930s, Korean literature explored rural life and the impact of colonial oppression. Writers like Kim Yujõng(김유정), Yi Hyosok(이효석), and Yi T’aejun(이태준) merged humor, nature, and social critique in their narratives to expose the injustices of the era.
• Writers' works: Set in rural landscapes, portray peasant lives without ideological framing, highlighting social conflicts and personal desires, and subtly critiquing the colonial economy.

Expansion of Poetic Imagination

• Background: During the second half of Korea's colonial period, poets like Yi Sang(이상), Chong Chi-yong(정지용), and Yun Tongju(윤동주) expanded poetic imagination. They explored deeper psychological and existential themes.
• Yi Sang(이상, 1910-37): A key avant-garde figure, used experimental language and incorporated mathematical and architectural symbols in his poetry to express the fragmented self and disconnect from the outside world. A shift to fiction reflected his focus on the inner psyche, anxieties of modern life, and innovative approach to poetic and narrative form. Example work: "Mirror" .
• Chong Chi-yong (정지용, 1903-?): Known for his mastery of the Korean language and disciplined poetic form. His poetry reflects an "imagist" style, emphasizes transcendence and harmony with nature, and is imbued with gripping imagery. Example work: "Window, I"
• Yun Tongju (윤동주, 1917-45): Writing under harsh Japanese colonial rule, his poems express the internalized agonies of the colonized consciousness, confronts personal and national suffering, and reflects on the struggles of maintaining conscience and identity in a repressive environment. Example work: "Another Home"

1945 - 1970: Liberation and the Korean War

• Liberation and Ideological Division (1945): Japanese rule ended in 1945. Korea faced the task of building a modern nation-state, but ideological divisions and Cold War politics led to the creation of North and South Korea. The Korean War (1950-1953) devastated the country, leaving it divided and polarized.
• Post-War Political Struggles and Economic Hardships: Syngman Rhee's anti-communist regime struggled with corruption and failed to address economic devastation. Widespread poverty persisted, and the 1960 “April 19 Revolution” led to a military coup. General Park Chung-hee took power, pursuing rapid economic growth with significant societal conflict.

Literary Revival of the Korean Language

• The end of Japanese rule allowed writers to rediscover the expressive potential of the Korean language, which had been banned under Japanese colonialism.
• Focus shifted to universal human themes, using folk traditions and shamanism.
• Revival of lyric tradition and modernist experimentation.

1970-1990: Literature in an Industrializing Society

• Context of 1970s Korea: Political turmoil; President Park Chung-hee's military dictatorship; rapid economic growth, but social inequity; environmental damage; labor grievances; emergence of youth culture and dissent.
• 1980s political shifts: The assassination of President Park led to hopes for democracy, but dashed by another military dictatorship; the 1980 Kwangju Uprising intensified calls for democracy.
• Themes in Fiction: Industrialization, labor exploitation, widening class divide; national division reflecting the trauma of the Korean War; women's lives focused on the experiences of women.
• 1980s Literature: Radical approaches to writing to tackle capital-labor conflicts and labor alienation; subtle exploration of inner struggles and complexities.

Women's Voices

• Emergence of accomplished women writers in the 1970s & 1980s. Writers like Pak Kyongni(박경리), Pak Wanso(박완서), Choe Myonghŭi(최명희), and O Chonghŭi(오정희) gained recognition for portraying the complexities of women's lives.
• Works reflected family, identity issues and societal changes

Explorations of existence and quests for new language

• In the 1970s & 1980s, Korean poets delved into existential themes and experimented with language and form. Poets like Hwang Tonggyu(황동규), Chòng Hyōnjong(정현종), and O Kyuwon(오규원) explored the interior landscape of individuals, using literary strategies reflecting reality and challenging the status quo.

Expansions of fictional space

• Korean fiction expanded in form and content during the 1980s, reflecting the complexity of society.
• Writers like Yi Munyol(이문열), Pak Yong-han(박영한), Yang Kuija(양귀자), Kang Sökkyōng(강석경), and Im Ch’or-u(임철우) employed techniques and diverse dimensions of life, struggles and societal changes.

"The Era of Poetry" and Deconstructions of Language

• The early 1980s was considered the "Era of Poetry" because of the intense energy and creativity of young Korean poets. Dissident voices challenged traditional language and form to articulate resistance as well as coping with political oppression and existential struggles of their time. Poets like Yi Sõngbok(이승복), Hwang Chi-u(황치우), Ch'oe Sŭngho(최성호), Pak Namch'òl(박남철), Ch'oe Sŭngja(최성자), Kim Hyesun(김혜순), and Chang Chong-il(장정일) expressed their views in innovative ways.

1990-2000: Literature in a Consumer Society

• Shift from social causes to consumerism.
• 1990s: Disillusionment with a focus on collective action. Political freedom increased, and the emphasis shifted from collective action to personal happiness and widespread consumerism.
• Rise of individualism and popular culture. Personal desires, hedonism, and the rise of technology.
• Rise of female writers: Writers like Shin Kyongsuk(신경숙), Kong Chiyōng(공지영), and Kim Insuk(김인숙) explored themes of female desire, liberation, and societal norms/constraints.
• Impact on Literature and the Arts: Young poets like Chang Chong-il(장정일) and Yu Ha(유하) explored existential themes, alienation, and the emptiness behind consumer culture's allure. Writers like Kim Yong-ha(김영하) and Yun Taenyong(윤대녕) explored the issues of consumption & alienation, while others including Ha Ilchi(하일지) and Shin Kyongsuk (신경숙) resisted the new world of consumerism with fresh approaches.
• Urban imagery and renewal of lyricism: Poets like Chang Chong-il and Yu Ha explored themes of urban life and emptiness. Those including Chang Songnam(장성남) and Ch'oe Chongnye(최정례) reflected on alienation and found solace in rural memories.
• The Self on Shifting Ground: Shin Kyongsuk's novels focused on the inner experiences of individuals, particularly women with psychological wounds. Her works explored personal journeys, the backdrop of political and social strife in 1980s Korea.

Explore the evolution of Korean literature during a tumultuous period from 1900 to 1945. This quiz covers socio-political transformations, colonial rule, resistance movements, and the emergence of modern literature in Korea. Test your knowledge on how historical events shaped literary development in this era.