‘천리마 기수’ 형상론과 최명익의 「임오년의 서울」

Abstract

This study aimed to review the circumstances of North Korean Literature in the early 1960's, by seeing how the historical novel "Seoul of Imo years"by Choi Myungik was ranked within the literature or cultural norms of its generation by relating it to the imagery of "Cheolima Gisu' which was accepted as the standard of that period. The imagery of 'Cheolima Gisu' rose up as a model for accelerated growth for the reconstruction of the nation after the Korean War, and was simultaneously a common image of man, linking the before and after of the Korean War while being the model of literature or cultural imagery that defined this period in history. It was possible to confirm that hidden inside "Seoul of Imo years" morals to be followed by "man", hence universal conscience was activated as a strong mechanism. Also, the mechanisms for the changes in the characters of the two novels that represent 'Cheolima Gisu' from 1961 were divided into two, as class consciousness was not able to show fundamental change within the characters due to the fact that it was not a type of consciousness which could be embodied like universal consciousness. Thus, the role models only go to the extent of reminding the readers of the type of consciousness to carry as the labor class. On the other hand, the personal desires and universal conscience suggested by Choi Myungik became a chance to challenge the issue of reality by revealing flaws within the moral ideology of class consciousness. Despite this, factors for why "Seoul of Imo years" was not received well and was shied away from mainstream North Korean literature could be seen as follows: the character of democracy within the text seemed to be succeeding the opinions of the non mainstream groups; the text dealt with social revolution, hence being far from the greatest project of the nation at that time which was social reform through the reconstruction of socialism; and his focusing on the universal and national consciousness without class consciousness.