Questioning Minds: Short Stories By Modern Korean Women Writers (Hawaiʻi studies on Korea)

Available for the first time in English, the ten short stories by modern Korean women collected here touch in one way or another on issues related to gender and kinship politics. All of the protagonists are women who face personal crises or defining moments in their lives as gender-marked beings in a Confucian, patriarchal Korean society. Their personal dreams and values have been compromised by gender expectations or their own illusions about female existence. They are compelled to ask themselves Who am I? Where am I going? What are my choices? Each story bears colorful and compelling testimony to the life of the heroine. Some of the stories celebrate the central character's breakaway from the patriarchal order; others expose sexual inequality and highlight the struggle for personal autonomy and dignity. Still others reveal the abrupt awakening to mid-life crises and the seasoned wisdom that comes with accepting the limits of old age. The stories are arranged in chronological order, from the earliest work by Korea's first modern woman writer in 1917 to stories that appeared in 1995--approximately one from each decade. Most of the writers presented are recognized literary figures, but some are lesser-known voices. The introduction presents a historical overview of traditions of modern Korean women's fiction, situating the selected writers and their stories in the larger context of Korean literature. Each story is accompanied by a biographical note on the author and a brief critical analysis. A selected bibliography is provided for further reading and research. Questioning Minds marks a departure from existing translations of Korean literature in terms of its objectives, content, and format. As such it will contribute to the growth of Korean studies, increasing the availability of material for teaching Korean literature in English, and stimulate readership of its writers beyond the confines of the peninsula. Contents......Page 8 Preface......Page 10 Acknowledgments......Page 14 Introduction: Traditions in Modern Korean Women’s Fiction Writing, by YUNG-HEE KIM......Page 16 1. Kim Myŏng-sun: A Girl of Mystery (1917)......Page 30 2. Na Hye-sŏk: Kyŏnghŭi (1918)......Page 39 3. Kim Wŏn-ju: Awakening (1926)......Page 70 4. Han Mu-suk: Hydrangeas (1949)......Page 83 5. Kang Sin-jae: The Mist (1950)......Page 98 6. Song Wŏn-hŭi: When Autumn Leaves Fall (1961)......Page 115 7. Yi Sun: A Dish of Sliced Raw Fish (1979)......Page 134 8. Yi Sŏk-pong: The Light at Dawn (1985)......Page 165 9. Ch’oe Yun: Stone in Your Heart (1992)......Page 179 10. Pak Wan-sŏ: Dried Flowers (1995)......Page 201 Notes......Page 230 Bibliography......Page 238 Index......Page 244 The stories are arranged in chronological order, from the earliest work by Koreas first modern woman writer in 1917 to stories that appeared in 1995, approximately one from each decade. Most of the writers presented are recognized literary figures, but some are lesser-known voices. The introduction presents a historical overview of traditions of modem Korean women's fiction, situating the selected writers and their stories in the larger context of Korean literature. Each story is accompanied by a biographical note on the author and a brief, critical analysis. A selected bibliography is provided for further reading and research Translated And With An Introduction By Yung-hee Kim. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 223-227) And Index.