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#Interview by Seoul Nat’l Univ. Korean Literature Prof. Bang Min-ho

We need to pay attention to the fact that this story was published in August, 1949. Once South and North Korea ended up with their own governments in 1948, the political situation settled down and people were left with the problem of making a living within that political system. The author thought that an era of instinctive selfishness began, a time when people focused only on their own survival. Ok-im mercilessly tries to take away her friend’s store. Her greed implies her humanity has broken down. It’s another kind of bankruptcy. 

Jeong-rye’s mother runs a small stationery shop on a secluded street near the school. She is being hounded by a loan shark who used to be a school principal. 

Jeong-rye’s mother was speechless from the shock. 

The possibility that she could lose this small store and even her one remaining house made her heart sink. 

She never had a debt in her whole life, but she started this business for she couldn’t rely on her deadbeat husband. She had a bank loan of 300,000 won, owed Ok-im 220,000 won and the principal 50,000 won. When she thought about sitting on a debt of 570,000 won, she couldn’t sleep at night and her desperation almost drove her to suicide. 

정례 어머니는 기가 막혀 말이 나오지를 않았다.

이러다가는 이 구멍가게나마 들어먹고

집 한 채 남은 것마저 까별려지지나 않을까 하는 생각을 곰곰하면

가슴이 더럭 내려앉는 것이었다.

평생에 빚이라고는 모르고 지냈는데

펀펀히 노는 남편만 바라보고 있을수가 없어서 시작한 노릇이라

은행에 삼십만 원이 그대로 있고

옥임이에게 이십이만원,

교장 영감에게 오만원,

도합 오십칠만원 빚을 어느덧 걸머지고 앉은 생각을 하면

밤에 잠이 아니 오고

앞이 캄캄하여 양잿물이라도 먹고 싶은 요사이의 정례어머니다.

Some 70 years ago, Jeong-rye’s mother went bankrupt financially but her friend Ok-im went bankrupt psychologically. Which bankruptcy do you think is a more serious problem? Their stories are probably reenacted in today’s world in various renditions.  

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Yeom Sang-seop (Born in Seoul, Aug. 30, 1897~Mar. 14, 1963)

: Debuted in 1921 with “Frog in the Specimen Room”

First writer to publish naturalism and realistic stories

Won the Asia Freedom Literature Award, Korean Academy of Arts Distinguished Service Award, etc.

Published “Two Bankruptcies” in literary magazine Sincheonji in 1949