The Evolution of Korean Literature

Korea's heritage extends beyond its historical roots and traditions; its language is one of the most significant aspects being its literature. Korean literature went through a journey following the development of its alphabet (called Hangul). This article will go in detail about how Korea created its own unique, personal literature after making its alphabet that revolutionized expression for its country and people.

King Sejong’s Invention of Hangul

Korea first used Chinese characters before the invention of Hangul in the 1400s, since they were heavily influenced by China. Hanja (the Chinese characters) were extremely complicated and its adoption was considerably difficult to learn, especially for common people who were less educated, therefore not having the opportunity to be literate. The characters tended to be complex and hindered widespread literacy.

Because of this, King Sejong the Great commissioned the creation of a new, easier writing system in 1443, which resulted in Hangul being birthed.

Hangul was different from the Chinese Hanja; it tailored to the phonetics of the Korean language, with each character having a sound to make up a word instead of each word having a character. Basically, it consisted of fourteen consonants and 10 vowels – a simple approach that allowed many people, even the common folk, to learn and speak.

The Development and Democratization of Literature

With this new alphabet, Hangul, previously marginalized voices now could utilize literacy to read and write. Many creative developments rose, such as poetry, prose, and historical writings. Some were unique literary genres, and others were more produced works based on previous ideas. Distinct literary genres started to take shape, such as “Sijo,” which was made near the late Joseon period of Korea. “Sijo” is a traditional Korean poetic form made up of a three-line structure. Like most poetry, it explored various themes (love, nature, social issues, et.c)

Even before Hangul was made into its own and was Hanja, Confucianism was quite ingrained into Korean literature. Now, with a more accessible alphabet, works produced upon the base of Confucianism were proliferated. Many literary themes and narratives put emphasis on morality, social order, and filial piety — most of them about ethics and societal norms. Hangul could be used as an easier way to convey these ideas.

Occupation, Modernization, and Literary Movements

Korea still underwent oppression after creating their own individualism like their personalities alphabet, but luckily still formed positive outcomes.

For example, the Imjin War which occurred from 1592-1598 (also known as the Japanese invasions of Korea) left quite an impact on Korean literature. As a result of the war’s traumatic experiences left on the people, it inspired a new wave of historical narratives. These narratives documented the resilience of Korean people, since writers used Hangul to recount the tales of the war. This created more historical context about Korean and its international oppression than before, when they had a complicated alphabet.

After many periods and centuries, significant socio-political changes impacted Korea. In the late 19th century and early 20th century, Korea (like many other countries) experienced an influx of modernization.

Many literary movements from outside nations, such as the Enlightenment and New Poetry movement, emerged as different ideologies came into play. Because of this, Hangul also evolved during this time.

The Imjin War wasn’t the only time Korea was invaded by Japan, unfortunately. From 1910 to 1945, the Japanese occupied Korea which brought large challenges for the people and their literature. Korea’s cultural identity was oppressed, fueling a surge in resistance literature. Writers used Hangul to resist colonial rule. Poets and novelists voiced their opinions, making sure they would preserve their identity in the face of adversity.

Post-Korean War Era

The Korean War is another significant event that occurred between 1950-1953, which split the country into two: North Korean and South Korea. Its aftermath marked another period of reconstruction and fresh starts. Writers grappled with the war’s experiences, as well as the challenges of rebuilding their divided part of the country.

Conclusion

The development of Korean literature after Hangul was created has become a major landmark in regards to the power of language. It is an example of the development of literature after the alphabet’s creation to exploring different themes, and paved a path for literature that encapsulated Korea’s cultural identity better. Today, Korean literature is growing and several of them are famous today, made with historical contexts and legacies from the olden days to now.