이육사와 중국

Abstract

Lee Yuk-sa (李陸史, 1904~1944) was a resistance poet, a thinker and an activist for independence who lived during the era of Japanese colonialism in Korea. Based on the view that the literature of Lee Yuk-sa was an important methodological choice to practice the Korean independent movement during the colonial period, it deserves in-depth research of integrated approaches in terms of the history of Korean independent movement and literary debate. That is to say, the task involves investigating in detail from what historic consciousness and realistic awareness Lee's literary practice in each era had originated, thereby empirically confirming and examining the facts left as questions and doubts among his traces and activities. Of such a critical mind, the most important task is the relation between Lee Yuk-sa and China. Lee's trips to China can be summarized as five times. That his trips to China were for the independent movement has already been verified through various routes. In addition, it can be estimated that his knowledge in China was exceptional as manifested through his translation works of Chinese literature, comments on current events of Chinese political society and reviews on Chinese literature. Then, to Lee Yuk-sa, what historic meaning did China have? This writing is none other than a process to obtain the answer to such a question. Clearly, the relation between Lee Yuk-sa and China must have been a very closely influential one, whether it was concerned with independent movement or literature. It can be said that the two directions had settled as a crucial critical mind in his life and overall activities, forming mutually organic relations. Thus, in explaining Lee Yuk-sa's literary world, the issue of how he viewed and understood the circumstances in China and the reality of Chinese literature could serve as a very important task. By tracing Lee Yuk-sa's five trips to China by period, this writing has its focus on investigating what meaning China was placed on his ideology and formation of literature per period.