JEJU-DO—History usually gives Gutenberg the credit, but some sources say Korea invented movable metal type. Good old Johannes didn’t start pouring his molds until about 1450, but in 1234, during Korea’s Goryeo period (from which the country’s present name derives), a guy named Choe Yun-ui is said to have used movable metal type to print the Sangjeong Gogeum Yemun, a collection of ritual books. The earliest extant book printed with metal type is a Buddhist text called the Jikji Simcheyojeol, from 1377, also a Goryeo document. Clearly, it’s not just kimchi we have Korea to thank for.
This little bit of history is consistent with Korean’s incredible respect for language. On the various occasions when I’ve asked my students who they consider to be a great Korean hero, an overwhelming majority of them cite Sejong the Great, the Joseon-era leader who invented hangeul (or hangul), the Korean alphabet system that’s still in use today, and which linguists generally recognize as one of the best writing systems ever created. Imagine asking a seven-year-old from Kamloops whom they admire and having them answer Tommy Douglas, because of the way he revolutionized health care in Canada, and you get a picture of just how revered Sejong and his invention are in Korean culture. He’s the dude they chose to put on the 10,000 won bill, and there’s even a day dedicated in hangeul’s honour (October 9, which, until recently, was actually a national holiday).
The issue of language is also crucial to social relations in Korea. Korean has at least seven (previously more) levels of speech, plus honorifics, used depending on the relationship between speakers; age is most important, but social status also comes heavily into play. As such, Koreans are required to be highly aware of the language they use, even in everyday situations. Thankfully, foreigners usually get a pass—most Koreans are impressed enough that you’re trying, so they’ll excuse you when you erroneously speak to your boss like a six-year-old or pay yourself high respect while asking where to pee.
The bulk of Korean literature is difficult to find in English translation, although the Seoul Selection website has a great, uh, selection of Korean literature, and Jimoondang publishes a nice little series of slim volumes called the Portable Library of Korean Literature. Online at Korea.net, you can find a great history of Korean writing from classical through modern times, as well as eight free short stories.
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Of course, the best Korean literature in the world can be found exclusively in one place: right here. Many of the classes I teach are writing classes, and over the course of the year and a half I’ve been working in Jeju, I’ve accumulated a selection of works from the ESL classroom. Most of these were done by 12-13 year-olds, with prompts but with no actual supervision or editing in the writing process (I may or may not have offered some additional guidance in the writing of the Poop Cinquain). They’re undiluted works of imagination, and in sharing them with you I sincerely hope I’m not taken to be mocking these kids. It’s actually quite the opposite: I find these works inspiring in their creativity, and in the effort that went into producing them. In a culture where language is so revered and so entwined with matters of respect and propriety, it’s amazing to me that these kids are brave enough to even take a shot at writing something in language they’re still learning. So, without further delay: a selection of short writings by my students (whose surnames I have omitted, to maintain some degree of anonymity).
“The Frog and the Astronaut,” by Donghyun
Astronauts go space by spaceship. After they leave, they discover new place. However there are too many frogs.
“The Devil’s Pants,” by Kyeongwon
The devil’s pants have very good ability. So, many countries have war for Devil’s pants. The Devil’s pants are money.
“Doggie Town,” by Gwangbum
I went to a town called “Doggie Town.” There was very strange. Dogs lived in town, and there weren’t people. I saw two dogs, “Wal” and “Mung.” They were brothers and they could speak English well. They liked me, but I wasn’t. Because I think they were animal. So I didn’t kind them. Unfortunately they know this, and would kill me. I ran away, but I have shouted.
“The Most Amazing Thing,” by Jae-yeun
When I was school, I saw a super star
His name is Tom Cruise
When I saw him, I think that I’m handsomer than him
And I’m smarter than him, and I’m taller
than him.
He is ugly
If it is true I can be a super star
I’m sorry about I’m arrogance
but it is true.
“Untitled,” by Jung-ah
A girl was stupid and everyone didn’t like her. But she becomes a president and she look like smart. Everyone likes her. But she is still stupid.
“Poop Cinquain” by B5 Class
Poopmonster
Dirty, Brown
Smelling, Hearing, Flushing
Flies buzz around it
Disgusting
While the grammar and syntax on display here aren’t perfect, I find it far preferable to let the students make a few mistakes in the interest of getting their creativity flowing, rather than stopping them to harp on details. It’s especially important to me because of how hard it is to get Korean students to think beyond drills, test scores and academic discipline and embrace the value of imagination. I’m sure most parents would be horrified to know I’m encouraging kids to write stories about ninjas and talking monkeys and doo-doo, instead of making them “study”—a concept here that rarely goes beyond cramming. But I believe these little pieces contain a lot of effort and even some wisdom; at very least, they demonstrate better thinking skills and a greater willingness to take risks than most of what passes for mainstream political commentary these days.
I also believe it’s essential that these kids learn the power of stories, especially in the context of second-language acquisition; math may be a universal language, but it’s tough to tell somebody what you did last night using quadratic equations. For all the weight that language holds in Korean culture, the formalities it necessitates can rob it of its magic. Sometimes, if the opportunity is there, a second language can provide an opportunity to explore and discover things that remain inaccessible in one’s own language—just ask Joseph Conrad.
By the way, anyone interested in checking out literature from Jeju should try books by the writer Hyun Ki Young, whose fiction often centres on the April 3rd uprising of 1948 , in which tens of thousands of Jeju citizens were killed in an anti-Communist frenzy—an incident in which the U.S. military played a significant role. The translation I have of his most famous work, Aunt Suni (ISBN 978-89-6208-002-5), is sketchy at best—I’m sure the simile “I stepped down the airplane stairs hesitatingly as if I were pushed down by a flight attendant” read much better in the original—but given the obscurity of the work, it’s remarkable it’s available at all.
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