ScholarWorks@숙명여자대학교

초록

The theme of the epic novel, “Volcanic Island”(『火山島』), which was made into a complete translation in Korean in October 2015, is a decisive criticism on ‘pro-Japanese activities’. Kim Seok-bum(金石範), a writer of “Volcanic Island” has a great interest in clearing the pro-Japanese groups. He also published a book titled “Conversion and Pro-Japanese collaborators”(Iwanami Shoten:岩波書店, 1993). This critical mind is deeply projected in various places in “Volcanic Island”. To the writer Kim Seok-bum, a reflection on the pro-Japanese problem was a fundamental motivation for writing “Volcanic Island”. Lee Bang-geun, the main character of “Volcanic Island” is contrasted with his father who is the pro-Japanese collaborator father and also the president of the Siksan Bank(殖産銀行). Because of his father’s being, Lee participates in anti-Japanese activities, one step away from pro-Japanese groups. He does not look at the pro-Japanese issue from a moral point of view. Lee delicately refers to the various situations and contexts in which they are held. The criticism on pro-Japanese writers and pro-Japanese literature is a topic that penetrates “Volcanic Island”. Impartial criticism on Lee Kwang-su, Choi Nam-sun, Choi Jae-seo, Baek Chul, and a magazine “National Literature”(『國民文學』) appears in the work from frequently. The bold and fundamental criticism on pro-Japanese literature leads to the awareness of the lack of modern Korean literature. In “Volcanic Island”, criticism on the fact that pro-Japanese collaborators of the colonial era still maintain their power after liberation is repeatedly described. In “Volcanic Island”, a bold diagnosis is being carried out on the pro-Japanese issue, which has not been properly captured by any Korean literature.

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