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I have had a principle about baits for some time – Don’t use artificial baits. That is why I don’t do lure fishing that uses manmade objects. 

I had this particular conviction that I should at least use an honest bait as long as the fish and I are engaged in a contest of strength in the depth of the sea. 

To the fish that was fooled by a bait, it would be even more cruel if it found out that the bait was not a live one, but a piece of plastic or wood or lead.

As I looked out to the night sea, I remembered someone who had used a fake bait a long time ago.

그 당시 내 문제가 심각했던 것은

이미 내가 그녀에게 푹 빠져든 상태였다는 것이다.

낚시에 빗대자면, 미끼를 너무 깊이 삼켜

도저히 스스로는 바늘을 토해내고

바다 한 가운데로 도망칠 수 없는 상황이라는 뜻이다.

The problem was that I was already deep into her. In fishing terms, I had swallowed the hook too deeply to spit it out on my own and escape out to the sea. 

더 비참했던 것은 내가 문 미끼는

살아있는 갯지렁이나 신선한 새우가 아니라

고작해야 플라스틱으로 만들어진 루어였다는 것이다. 

What made me more pathetic was that the bait I had swallowed was not a live earthworm or a fresh shrimp, but a mere plastic lure. 

# Interview with SNU Korean literature professor Bang Min-ho

Fishing is a contest with fish. But the fish’s life is at stake while it’s only a sporting activity or a hobby for the human. The main character muses how sad it would be for the fish if he uses an artificial bait in the fish’s battle for life. This idea may seem funny, but it contains his conviction. Something trivial to me may be a life-or-death situation for others. This story helps us understand the world, our lives, through fishing. 

“그러니까 제 친구 얘긴데요.

친구 중에 이 섬에서 여동생을 잃어버린 놈이 있어요.

여동생이 학교 친구인 남자애 둘과 함께 밤낚시를 갔는데

그만 바다에 빠지고 만 거예요.

친구 여동생이 먼저 실족하고 

그 다음에 여동생을 구하려고 바다에 뛰어들었던 다른 남자애도 같이

“I have a friend who lost a sister on this island. I wonder if you remember, but it happened in the year when Sampoong삼풍 department store collapsed. A monster typhoon had hit the area, but that was when his sister went night-fishing with two of her male friends. They died in the sea. She slipped and fell into the sea first and then one of the boys jumped in after her.

그런데 사고 상황이 공교로운 게,

낚시를 간 셋은 일종의 삼각관계였다나 봐요.

서로 그런 사이였는데

바다에 와서 둘은 죽고 하나만 멀쩡히 살아남았으니.

상황이 묘해서 경찰에서도 꽤나 신경을 쓴 눈치였는데,

결국 사고로 결론이 나고 말았어요.

What was strange about the incident was that the three were in a sort of love triangle. Police paid close attention to the case since the circumstances were rather suspicious. Three came to the sea but two died and only one came out alive. But the case was concluded as an accident. 

그 친구도 원래 낚시를 좀 했었는데,

그 사고 이후로 아예 조행을 못했다죠, 아마”

My friend used to fish a lot but has never gone fishing since the accident.“

비가 더 심해지고 아래쪽 갯바위는 더 이상 보이지 않았다.

사람들이 살아온 사정이 제각기 다르듯이,

갯바위의 표정들도 그렇다.

갑자기 민낯을 보이기도 하고 거꾸로 갑자기 얼굴을 감추기도 한다.

누구나 사정은 오직 그 자신밖에 모른다. 

The rainstorm became stronger and the rocks beneath were no longer visible. Just as people lived different lives, the rocks all looked different. They sometimes show their bare faces and then abruptly hide them. Only they know the true story. 

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Jo Hyeon (Born in Damyang, Jeollanam-do Prov., 1969~ )

Debuted by winning the Dong-a Ilbo’s spring writing contenst with “An Elegant Philosophy about Paper Napkins” in 2008