100th Anniversary of Birth of Writer Kim Dong-ni

The literary community in Korea is now busy shedding new light on novelist Kim Dong-ni and carrying out commemorative projects. He was the leader of right-wing literature after Korea’s liberation from Japanese colonial rule. His works feature the theme of traditional culture and are tinged with strong elements of conservatism. He left numerous works, including , and , to name just a few. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of the author, to whom the epithet ‘the most Korean-styled writer’ is applied. Let’s explore the life of this great writer.

Childhood Reflected in Literary Works

Kim Dong-ni’s real name was Kim Si-jong(김시종). He was born in 1913 in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province. His mother gave birth to him late in life, at the age of 42, and as a result she had trouble breastfeeding her baby. Moreover, she was always busy with farm work. So his elder brother’s wife filled in for his mother and fed him boiled grain or chestnut powder mixed with water.

Kim’s family was poor. When he was little, he wasn’t very interested in studying but enjoyed romping around in the forests and fields. His familiarity with nature during childhood later helped create a nature-friendly atmosphere in his literature.

From the time he was an elementary school student, he was known as the boy who wrote well. Kim attended Gyeseok(계석) Middle School in Daegu and went on to Gyeongsin(경신) High School in Seoul. But his family circumstances forced him to give up his studies. Afterwards, he devoted himself to reading in place of regular coursework. He read a tremendous number of books, including philosophy, world literature and Eastern classics. In fact, Kim’s eldest brother Kim Beom-bu(김범부), who was a scholar of Chinese classics and a philosopher, had great influence on his extensive reading and his prospects of becoming a writer of Korean literature.

Writer Representing Korean Literature

Kim made his name known in 1929 when he released a poem titled . Five years later, in 1934, another poem was accepted for a spring literary contest in a local daily, Chosun Ilbo. The following year, his short story was selected for a similar contest in another daily, Joongang Ilbo. Until 1940, Kim published other literary pieces such as , and .

After Korea’s liberation of Japanese colonial occupation, Kim settled in Donam-dong(돈암동) in Seoul. In 1946, he created the ‘Chosun Youth Writers Association’ along with other literary figures such as Jo Ji-hun, Hwang Sun-won, Park Mok-wol, Park Du-jin, Kim Dal-jin and Seo Jeong-ju. He was the first president of the association.

Kim’s major work is a short story about the conflict between the family and religion. It revolves around a female shaman named Mohwa(모화), her son Ug-I(욱이) and her daughter and Ug-I’s half-sister Nang-I(낭이).

At one time, Kim went to church under the influence of his devout Christian mother. What he experienced during that time is fully reflected in this short story.

also includes eight out of 21 short stories that Kim had written since the release of his work until liberation. underwent several rounds of modifications. The final revision was made in 1978 to be reborn as the novel (을화).

Most Korean-styled Writer

Kim constantly published literary works in the late 1940s while working as the chief editor of a newspaper. Those works dealt with Koreans’ return after liberation and the plight of the homeless.

Works written by other authors during Kim’s period mostly use the theme of the difficulties faced by Koreans during the Japanese colonial rule and their poverty and pain stemming from war afterwards. Those literary pieces attribute the problems to society or systems and deliver a message that people should carve out their own destiny.

Unlike those writers, however, Kim didn’t blame the current situation for the difficulties. He didn’t call for the need for shaping one’s destiny, either. Rather, the main characters in his works accepted the pain of their time just the way it was and overcame the difficulties through shamanism or religion.

This is why Kim’s dependence on mythology and shamanism in life is considered rather unrealistic, even while Kim is evaluated as the ‘most Korean-styled writer’ who best described Korean people after liberation.

Kim produced countless literary works throughout his life. The prolific writer even published ones when he was 75. He displayed his endless enthusiasm for writing through his novels and . Unfortunately, he collapsed with a stroke in 1990. After five years of struggle against the disease, he passed away.