『춘원서간문범春園書簡⽂範』 연구

Abstract

This study identified the background of Kwang-soo Lee’s publication, Chunwonseoganmoonbeom (How to Write a Letter written by Kwang-soo Lee) and the meaning of the enlightenment idea in the work. This book is the only textbook for the public among Kwang-soo Lee’s works. This book is the result of the public’s demand to learn letter formats suitable for the new media environment and style, the planning of publishers who captured these demands, and the author’s perception that continued to pay attention to the style and format of Korean letters. Kwang-soo Lee suggested ‘the authenticity of the content’ and ‘colloquialism’ as the main principles of writing Korean letters. He argued that we should abandon conventional phrases and write with heart in real-life words. This is because what is important in letters is the sincerity of the writer. He explained in detail how to write Korean sentences and showed various uses of Korean letter styles through various examples. The letters, created by Kwang-soo Lee, are also means of capturing Lee Kwang-soo’s own enlightenment ideas. The materials of the examples are consistent with the subjects that he had continuously explored. While writing this book, he pursued ideological enlightenment through example texts. The readers of this book might feel as if they were talking to the sender while reading the examples because letters are familiar with everyday life. The enlightenment ideas presented in this way lead to Japanese colonial era’s pro-Japanese discourse. Kwang-soo Lee emphasized training individual minds and developing mercy. He claimed this because he was interested in Buddhism at the time. He ignored the periodic condition of Japanese colonial era and emphasized only individual patience and sacrifice. This idea eventually led to pro-Japanese. Pro-Japanese discourse was conveyed friendly to readers through letters reflecting daily life. The letters in this book were the rhetoric of enlightenment that presented pro-Japanese friendly.