잊혀진 노래의 역사: 채동선의 <한글노래>

Abstract

Hangŭl (Korean alphabet) is a part of ordinary life in Korea nowadays, but when Korea had just become liberated from Japanese imperial occupation, social attention on the Korean language and Hangŭl was heightened due to the rising nationalist viewpoint, and public interest in the celebration of Hangŭl Day also increased. The significance of “The Song for Hangŭl,” a musical representation of Hangul Day performed for several years after the liberation, should not be underestimated. This paper examines historical materials related to the song and its composer Tongsŏn Ch’ae, including his own manuscript and articles from periodicals and newspapers. This research complements previous research on this song conducted in the field of Korean Language and Literature Studies, by exploring the meaning of the song from musical perspectives. Also, this research adds new insight into Tongsŏn Ch’ae’s contribution to society and its culture, by examining his efforts to provide the song for the Hangŭl Day celebration and to provide the explanations of the musical terms to aid the creation of the Grand Dictionary of Korean, a project of huge historical significance as well.