김여휘의 표해록에 나타난 유구 체험

Abstract

This paper aims to analyze the drift narrative and Ryukyu experience depicted in Pyohaerok by Kim Yeo-hwi, highlighting its place within the historical context of late Joseon Dynasty travel literature. Previous studies of Kim Yeo-hwi’s records have primarily relied on Song Jeong-gyu’s Overseas Mungyeonrok and official documents, which detail incidents of drifting in Jeju. This study introduces a previously unexamined source, Kimyeohwi Pyohaerok, which provides new insights into Kim Yeo-hwi’s unique experiences. In 1662, Kim Yeo-hwi and 31 companions from Haenam, Jeolla-do, set sail from Jeju and drifted until they landed on Daedo in the Ryukyu Islands. Following repatriation procedures, they returned to Joseon by way of Satsuma, Nagasaki, and Tsushima, finally arriving in Haenam in 1663. Various official records, such as The Annals of King Hyeonjong and Pyoinryeongraeungrok, as well as works like Song Jeong-gyu’s Overseas Mungyeonrok, provide details of Kim’s journey, cultural observations, and novel encounters, including with sweet potatoes, which he encountered in Ryukyu for the first time. Among the three known versions of Kimyeohwi Pyohaerok, this material captures the intensity of the drifting experience, describing the life-threatening challenges faced by Kim Yeo-hwi and his companions. It also offers a rare glimpse into their psychological states, vividly portraying their fears and resilience. Unlike other records, which focus more on Ryukyu's customs and repatriation logistics, this text emphasizes the hardships at sea, bringing a unique realism to the drift experience. Additionally, Kimyeohwi Pyohaerok offers a detailed view of the customs and daily life on Daedo, noting the Ryukyu people's gentle nature and integrity. Kim Yeo-hwi engaged in cultural exchanges, including poetry, with local scholars and learned from a Joseon interpreter that Ryukyu had been invaded by Satsuma, falling under its control. This information provides new historical insights into Ryukyu’s socio-political dynamics during that period.