Kim Dong-in
Encyclopedia
Kim Dong-in was a South Korea
n writer.
Kim lived an extravagant lifestyle (based on the inheritance received from his father) until 1930, at which point his finances began to fail. Kim's financial situation led him to depression and drug abuse. Until this point Kim had been a purist (colloquial and realistic) but he now turned to popular serials, which he had previously spurned. Among these were a number of historical novels (listed below). In 1934, Kim published, somewhat ironically considering their different stances on literature, the first in-depth study of Yi Gwang-su, "A Study of Chunwon” (Chunwon yeongu); in 1935, Kim launched the monthly magazine Yadam.
In 1939, still poor and now ill, Kim joined Park Yong-hui, Lim Hak-su and others in a visit to Manchuria that was sponsored by the Consolation of the North Chinese Imperial Army. This was clearly an act of collaboration and is regarded, even today in Korea, as a mark on his literary career. In 1942, however, Kim was jailed on charges of lese-majesty against the Emperor of Japan.
In 1946, after Korean liberation, Kim was critical in forming the Pan-Korea Writers Association which countered other organizations promoting proletarian literature.
In the years that followed, Kim published stories, including "The Traitor” (Banyeokja, 1946) and “Man Without a Nation” (Manggugingi, 1947). These works, ironically, provided a sharp critique of Lee Gwang-su and other writers who collaborated with the Japanese during the occupation. On January 5, 1951, Kim died at his home in Seoul.
In 1955, the magazine World of Thoughts (Sasanggye) created the Dong-in Literary Award
to commemorate Kim's literary achievements.
Collections:
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
n writer.
Life
Kim Dong-in, born on October 2, 1900 in Pyeongyang, Pyeongannam-do was a pioneer of realism and naturalism in Modern Korean literature. A son of a wealthy landowner, like many other young Korean intellectuals Kim took his higher education in Japan, attending the Meiji Academy in Tokyo and entering the Kawabata School of Fine Arts. Kim dropped out when he decided to pursue writing as a career. In Japan in 1919, Kim and other advocates for "art-for-art's-sake-literature," launched the influential but transitory journal Creation (Changjo) along with Joo Yohan, Jeon Yeongtaek, Choi Seungman, and Kim Hwan. Creation took a stand against the didactic literature ("national literature" to put it another way) proposed by Yi Kwang-su, In Creation Kim published his debut story, “The Sorrows of the Weak” (Yakhanjaui seulpeum). In 1925, Kim published one of his most famous works, Potatoes, which was a breakthrough in Korean "realist" fiction and a further salvo in his ongoing literary war with Yi Kwang-su.Kim lived an extravagant lifestyle (based on the inheritance received from his father) until 1930, at which point his finances began to fail. Kim's financial situation led him to depression and drug abuse. Until this point Kim had been a purist (colloquial and realistic) but he now turned to popular serials, which he had previously spurned. Among these were a number of historical novels (listed below). In 1934, Kim published, somewhat ironically considering their different stances on literature, the first in-depth study of Yi Gwang-su, "A Study of Chunwon” (Chunwon yeongu); in 1935, Kim launched the monthly magazine Yadam.
In 1939, still poor and now ill, Kim joined Park Yong-hui, Lim Hak-su and others in a visit to Manchuria that was sponsored by the Consolation of the North Chinese Imperial Army. This was clearly an act of collaboration and is regarded, even today in Korea, as a mark on his literary career. In 1942, however, Kim was jailed on charges of lese-majesty against the Emperor of Japan.
In 1946, after Korean liberation, Kim was critical in forming the Pan-Korea Writers Association which countered other organizations promoting proletarian literature.
In the years that followed, Kim published stories, including "The Traitor” (Banyeokja, 1946) and “Man Without a Nation” (Manggugingi, 1947). These works, ironically, provided a sharp critique of Lee Gwang-su and other writers who collaborated with the Japanese during the occupation. On January 5, 1951, Kim died at his home in Seoul.
In 1955, the magazine World of Thoughts (Sasanggye) created the Dong-in Literary Award
Dong-in Literary Award
The Dong-in Literary Award is a South Korean literary award named after novelist Kim Dong-in, established in order to praise the literary achievement of The Republic of Korea...
to commemorate Kim's literary achievements.
Works in English
- "Potatoes" in Modern Korean Fiction: An Anthology
- "The Rock" in Meetings and Farewells: Modern Korean Stories
- The Post Horse in Meetings and Farewells: Modern Korean Stories
- "The Red Hills: A Doctor's Diary" in Modern Korean Short Stories
- "The Seaman's Chant" in The Rainy Spell and Other Korean Stories
- "The Photograph and the Letter" in A Ready-Made Life: Early Masters of Modern Korean Fiction
Works in Korean (Partial)
Historical Novels:- The Young Ones (Jeolmeun geudeul, 1930–1931)
- Spring at Unhyeongung Palace (Unhyeongungui bom, 1933)
- The Decline of the Dynasty (Wangbuui nakjo, 1935)
- Great Prince Suyang (Dae Suyang, 1941)
Collections:
- Life (Moksum, 1924)
- Potato (1935)
- Short Stories of Kim Dong-in (Kim Dong-in danpyeonjip, 1939)
- The Sunset of the Palace (1941)
- Roaming (Baehoe, 1941)
- Identical Toes (Balgaragi dalmatda, 1948)