『만선일보』라는 문학장과 이기영의 <처녀지>

Abstract

The article originally confirms the fact that it was in Manchu-Korea Daily (<滿鮮日報>) that Li Qiyong’s Untapped Land was serialized for the first time. The discussion and narration of the identity of national policy in the novel are the fundamental elements of serial novels. And this serialization depends on national policies of identity and the plots often involving love triangles. The theme of Untapped Land follows Nam Pyo’s career and uncompleted narration with the protagonist’s premature death. In the novel, Nam Pyo is a deplorable character who has failed in romance and in his career, a tragic reality presented at the end of the novel. Nam Pyo’s tragic path and uncertain future serves as Untapped Land main theme. In the author’s postscript, he states that he did not set out to write a tragic end, but the victim of a word limitation. The book creatively intertwines the tragedy narrations connection to conformity in reality. It also illustrates the capriciousness and the uncertainties that narrators harbor. Using this semi-double entendres, the superficial narration and core narration, the author guaranteed an ending of the serial through the stability of the theme. It is fair to say that Untapped Land separated itself from literature of “Manchukuo” (Japanese puppet regime in Northeast China) in its keynote and philosophy.