<病人懇親會錄>의 현실 인식과 저자 연구

Abstract

This is to look into various appearances of the society depicted in the new-era novel, <Byungingahnchinhwaerok>, which was published in the national newspaper of the early 1900's, 'Daehanminbo', as well as to analogize the novel's author, based on the author's perspective. <Byungingahnchinhwaerok> not only expressed a strong criticism against corrupt feudal government officials but also stressed the importance of the sound national economy, not to mention that education is a must in order to build up the economy. Moreover, while anxious about the fate of the nation with the imminent annexation of Korea by Japan, the novel advocated that all fellow countrymen should put their strength together in order to overcome the national crisis. In addition, this paper aims to study the author, based on periodic cognizance and viewpoints present in the work. Moreover it also looks at the writers who took part in the publication of 'Daehanminbo', the official paper of the 'Daehanhyuphwae', the political organization founded in 1907 to promote the advancement of the nation in various areas. Although writers such as Jung-Soo Yook, Jong-Rin Lee and Hae-Jo Lee seem to have been involved in the publication of <Byungingahnchinhwaerok>, they either believed in Roman Catholicism and Chun-Do-Kyo(a hybrid religion), or offered these religions as the alternative to introducing new western cultures, which does not correspond to the negative standpoint of the <Byungingahnchinhwaerok> towards the Christianity. Therefore the novel's author must be Chae-Ho Sin who advocated the advancement of the public welfare, and saving the nation through education. Created in the backdrop of the media control by Japan, the novel, <Byungingahnchinhwaerok> boasts sharp, objective criticism to the realistic subjects, and was aware of the reality, which was uncommon among novels written in the period.