마해송의 「홍길동」에 반영된 근대성

Abstract

Research on the formation of modern children's literature in Korea has evolved from studies that focus on determining its origin, to those that analyze perceptions of minors and the formation of discourse surrounding childhood, as well as empirical investigations into the emergence of professional writers. Building on such research, it is now necessary to explore how ‘modernity’ is reflected in the works during the formation of modern children's literature. As part of this long-term project, this study examines the modernity reflected in Ma Hae-song’s "Hong Gil-dong." Ma Hae-song’s "Hong Gil-dong" follows the narrative structure of the classic novel "Hong Gil-don Jeon", but selectively rewrites only the entertaining parts according to the author's intent. Naturally, modern perceptions are reflected in the narrative structure and the storytelling of the work. This study reveals the significance of Ma Hae-song’s "Hong Gil-dong" as a children’s novel and analyzes its narrative structure in comparison to the classic "Hong Gil-don Jeon". Furthermore, it uncovers the modernity inherent in "Hong Gil-dong." The novel endows the protagonist, Hong Gil-dong, with modern characteristics by highlighting his inner subjectivity, portrays him as a child figure, and actively reflects a modern worldview, thus establishing itself as a modern children’s novel. Approximately ten years after Ma Hae-song's "Hong Gil-dong" was published, Kim Yu-jeong published "Hong Gil-dong Jeon" in "New Children" magazine in 1935. However, Kim’s version failed to reveal Hong Gil-dong’s characteristics as a child and his modern traits. In this regard, Ma Hae-song’s "Hong Gil-dong" is a significant work in understanding how modern traits were expressed during the formation of modern children's literature in Korea. Through future research exploring the modernity reflected in other modern children's novels, it is hoped that the process of forming modern children's literature in Korea will be more thoroughly elucidated.