Mirok Li
Encyclopedia
Mirok Li was a Korea
n writer who spent much of the twentieth century in exile in Germany
. Li was responsible for translating several Korean stories into German.
, which had recently completed the colonization of Korea. One year later, at age 11, he was married to his wife, Choe Mun-ho.
In 1914 he took a visit to the "new school" again, but had to stop his education due to a disease that would accompany him throughout his life. Nevertheless, in order to pass the entrance exam to the university, he got 2 years and could continue through 1917, a distance learning medical record at the Kyungsung School of Medicine in Seoul. During this time he had two children into the world in 1917 his son was born, and in 1919, Myung-ju, his daughter, was born.
In May 1920 he achieved his goal and set in 1922 in Würzburg
, and a year later continued his medical studies in Heidelberg. However, even in Germany he remained ill and had to interrupt his studies for a long time.
It was not until 1925, he was able to resume his studies in Munich
again, but changed his field of study and then studied zoology, botany and anthropology. In 1928 he submitted his doctoral dissertation on "Regulatory phenomena in the regeneration of planaria under abnormal conditions," and received a doctorate.
In 1931, Li published small articles, such as the publication of "Night in a Korean street" in Dame. He found support from Professor Seyler, who became his patron, and moved to after Gräfelfing
. In 1946 he published his autobiographical novel, titled "The Yalu River flows", which debuted in 1959 also translated into South Korea
and made him instantly famous. Li took the place of his birth name, Eui-kyeong for his literary activity to the Korean name "Mi-rok" of the Bodhisattva Maitreya
.
The last two years of his life devoted to Li's work as a lecturer in Korean language, Chinese and Japanese literature and history in the East Asian Institute at the University of Munich. Li died on 20 March 1950 fern found its Korean homeland in Gräfelfing, his tomb is still on the Gräfelfinger cemetery. Large parts of his literary creation Li burned shortly before his death and therefore were not preserved for posterity.
, China
. There, he demonstrated in front of the Korean Provisional Government in exile and before continuing to Germany.
In the summer/autumn of 2008, there was a TV three-parter called "The Yalu River
flows", which recounted Mirok Li's life. Contracting was South Korea's SBS TV station - in cooperation with the Bavarian Radio, executive producer is Starmax. For on location in Germany, the recreated scenes (Heidelberg
, monastery Münsterschwarzach, Munich, Germany) were done by the Munich Film Production Naumann organization. It was directed by Lee Jonghan. Mirok Li is embodied in the 3 performers: Noh Min Woo as a child, as a young man (1920–1932) by Sung-Ho Choi, and in the scenes until his death (1933–1950) of Byok-Woo Song. When aired in South Korea, in November 2008, it was shown in three parts, each an hour. The German broadcasting is not yet clear.
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
n writer who spent much of the twentieth century in exile in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Li was responsible for translating several Korean stories into German.
Biography
Growing up alongside four siblings, the youngest child and only son of a landowner, Li grew into the Confucian custom, guided by the strict social order of the old Cyrus. At the age of four, he was introduced by his father to the Chinese script and the Chinese classics. He attended the village school, and was taught in the ancient Korean style (sodang) in 1905 . After the change in 1910, education at Haidju-school changed according to the notions of JapanJapan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, which had recently completed the colonization of Korea. One year later, at age 11, he was married to his wife, Choe Mun-ho.
In 1914 he took a visit to the "new school" again, but had to stop his education due to a disease that would accompany him throughout his life. Nevertheless, in order to pass the entrance exam to the university, he got 2 years and could continue through 1917, a distance learning medical record at the Kyungsung School of Medicine in Seoul. During this time he had two children into the world in 1917 his son was born, and in 1919, Myung-ju, his daughter, was born.
In May 1920 he achieved his goal and set in 1922 in Würzburg
Würzburg
Würzburg is a city in the region of Franconia which lies in the northern tip of Bavaria, Germany. Located at the Main River, it is the capital of the Regierungsbezirk Lower Franconia. The regional dialect is Franconian....
, and a year later continued his medical studies in Heidelberg. However, even in Germany he remained ill and had to interrupt his studies for a long time.
It was not until 1925, he was able to resume his studies in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
again, but changed his field of study and then studied zoology, botany and anthropology. In 1928 he submitted his doctoral dissertation on "Regulatory phenomena in the regeneration of planaria under abnormal conditions," and received a doctorate.
In 1931, Li published small articles, such as the publication of "Night in a Korean street" in Dame. He found support from Professor Seyler, who became his patron, and moved to after Gräfelfing
Gräfelfing
Gräfelfing is a municipality in the district of Munich, in Bavaria, Germany. It is located 1 km west of Munich .The name "Gräfelfing" first appears as "Grevolvinga", which as per one hypothesis could possibly name a tribe leader named "grey wolf" .Gräfelfing is ranked on the 5th...
. In 1946 he published his autobiographical novel, titled "The Yalu River flows", which debuted in 1959 also translated into South Korea
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...
and made him instantly famous. Li took the place of his birth name, Eui-kyeong for his literary activity to the Korean name "Mi-rok" of the Bodhisattva Maitreya
Maitreya
Maitreya , Metteyya , or Jampa , is foretold as a future Buddha of this world in Buddhist eschatology. In some Buddhist literature, such as the Amitabha Sutra and the Lotus Sutra, he or she is referred to as Ajita Bodhisattva.Maitreya is a bodhisattva who in the Buddhist tradition is to appear on...
.
The last two years of his life devoted to Li's work as a lecturer in Korean language, Chinese and Japanese literature and history in the East Asian Institute at the University of Munich. Li died on 20 March 1950 fern found its Korean homeland in Gräfelfing, his tomb is still on the Gräfelfinger cemetery. Large parts of his literary creation Li burned shortly before his death and therefore were not preserved for posterity.
Li's participation in the Japanese occupation protests of 1919
Li helped with printing and distributing leaflets in denunciation of the Japanese occupation. This got him into trouble and he fled at the urging of his mother in 1919 to ShanghaiShanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. There, he demonstrated in front of the Korean Provisional Government in exile and before continuing to Germany.
Legacy
Li is revered for his involvement in Germany, surrounded by his friends and supporters as "an ambassador between cultures" beyond the grave.In the summer/autumn of 2008, there was a TV three-parter called "The Yalu River
Yalu River
The Yalu River or the Amnok River is a river on the border between North Korea and the People's Republic of China....
flows", which recounted Mirok Li's life. Contracting was South Korea's SBS TV station - in cooperation with the Bavarian Radio, executive producer is Starmax. For on location in Germany, the recreated scenes (Heidelberg
Heidelberg
-Early history:Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. His jaw bone was discovered in 1907; with scientific dating, his remains were determined to be the earliest evidence of human life in Europe. In the 5th century BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of...
, monastery Münsterschwarzach, Munich, Germany) were done by the Munich Film Production Naumann organization. It was directed by Lee Jonghan. Mirok Li is embodied in the 3 performers: Noh Min Woo as a child, as a young man (1920–1932) by Sung-Ho Choi, and in the scenes until his death (1933–1950) of Byok-Woo Song. When aired in South Korea, in November 2008, it was shown in three parts, each an hour. The German broadcasting is not yet clear.
Works
- The other dialect. Sungshin Women's University Press, Seoul 1984th.
- Iyagi. Korean short stories. EOS Verlag, St. Ottilie, 1996, ISBN 3-88096-300-2.
- Japanese poetry. Müller & Kiepenheuer, Munich, 1949.
- From the Yalu to the Isar River. Narratives. Benedict Press, Waegwan 1982nd.
- The Yalu River flows. A youth in Korea. EOS Verlag, St. Ottilie, 1996, ISBN 3-88096-299-5 (reprinted ed d. Munich 1946).
External links
- Dr. Mirok Li Homepage (in Korean)