Showing Jeolla Culture in Literature: Writer Yi Chong-jun

Narrative

Yi Chong-jun (1939-2008) is a key figure in Korean literature from the Jeolla region. His education at Gwangju Seo Middle School, where he studied under colonial independence activist and Protestant minister Kang Bong-u (1892-1970), and later Gwangju Jeil High School, laid the foundation for his literary career. Among his works, his novel Dangsindeul ui cheonguk (Your Paradise) (1974) intertwines social issues with personal narratives through the story of the special facilities for Hansen’s disease patients on the nearby Sorokdo Island, which was established by the missionary nurse Johanna E. Schepping (1880-1934), who was based out of Gwangju. Yi’s works often reflect traditional cultural elements of the Jeolla region, like the depiction of southern school of pansori (epic chant) in his short stories Seopyeonje (1976) and Seonhakdong nageune (The Wanderer of Seonhakdong Village), which respectively inspired the movies Seopyeonje (1993) and Beyond the Years (2007), both directed by Im Kwon-taek (1934– ), who lived in Gwangju during his youth. His literary excellence earned him the Yi Sang Literary Award in 1978, solidifying his impact on Korean narrative arts.