Author ｜
In-jae Song
Abstract ｜
The New Culture Movement, which started in China at 1915, leaded the reform of idea, language and literature. Yang Geonsik (1889-1944), Jung Naedong (1903-1985), and Kim Taejoon (1905-1949), who can be called as the first generation sinologists in modern Korea, had interest in it during 1920-30s. Especially, the birth of new writing style, perceptions of reality through literature, enlightenment in thoughts became the main references for them to seek the way for Korean revolution of literature, culture and thoughts. Yang Geonsik expressed sympathy with New Culture Movement of China deeply and therefore translated several volumes of novels and plays of modern China as he hoped Chinese literature can be helpful to the growth of literature and the revolution of ideas in modern Korea. Jung Naedong went to China to study after New Culture Movement declined. It made him evaluate New Culture Movement more objectively, although he also hoped to learn from Chinese literature. Kim Taejoon on the one hand witnessed literature movement serving as useful means in social and ideological movement, but on the other hand regarded New Culture Movement as the past of current proletarian literature, all his views are based on socialist ideas. These three types of view constructed the multiple images of New Culture Movement of China in the 1920s and 30s Korea. All of these views are relevant to the effort of Korean intellectuals to accomplish the reconstruction of Korean literature. It can be important historical resources for describing the knowledge communication and network of Korea and China between the 1910s and 1930s.
keywords ｜
New Culture Movement, knowledge network, Yang Geonsik, Jung Naedong, Kim Taejoon