“She senses her past feelings, bleached white. At the same time, she feels the passage of time. The past, after all, is an emotion long gone.” (Hayan Dojeong [A White Path]. Hwimun Publishing, 1964)
Han Malsook is a novelist who delves into the relationship between women, love, sexuality, and society.
1. Life
Han Malsook was born in 1931 in colonial Korea under Japanese rule. She had a wealthy childhood as her father was a former police officer who became a government official and had also worked as an interpreter at a colonial police station. Her sister is Han Moosook, who made her literary debut in 1943. Han Malsook graduated from Sookmyung Girls' Middle School and Sookmyung Girls' High School, before entering the College of Arts and Sciences at Seoul National University in 1955 to study linguistics. She was schoolmates with novelist Park Wan-suh throughout middle, high school and university. In 1956, she published her short story “Byeolbit Sogui Gyejeol” (“Season in Starlight”) in the December issue of Hyundae Munhak and in 1957, “Sinhwaui Danae” (“Precipice of Myth”) was selected for the June issue of the same magazine, thus making her literary debut. After the Korean War, she was named one of the leading female novelists of South Korean literary circles. She was recognized for her services in the development of culture and arts and was awarded the Order of Cultural Merit (Third Class), the Precious Crown, in 1999.
From the 1960s, Han’s works began to be introduced overseas. Her short stories “Jangma” (“The Rainy Season”), “Haengbok” (“Joy”) and her short story collection Delleseu Gonghangeul Tteonamyeo (Leaving Dulles Airport) were translated into English; her short story collection Sangcheo (Scars) into French; and Geomungo and Han Janui Keopi (A Cup of Coffee) into Polish. From 1983 onward, her novel Areumdaun Yeonghonui Norae (Hymn of the Spirit) was translated into nine languages, including English, Polish, French and Chinese, and published by local publishers in each respective country. At ninety-three, she published her short story “Jalgayo!” (“Goodbye!”) in the April issue of The Literature Monthly.
2. Writing
Since the Korean War, Han has been described as a leading “female novelist.” Her works are characterized by delicate depictions of psychology and sensory narratives. She critically appropriates a range of female types, such as ordinary housewives, “madame freedom,” “Après-girl,” and “Western princesses” (prostitutes in US military base towns) that were summoned to restore nationalistic order in postwar South Korea. In her debut work “Sinhwaui Danae” (“Precipice of Myth”), she depicts women’s sexuality in an unconventional manner, which sparked a debate over existentialism in the contemporary literary critical field.
Her first novel Hayan Dojeong (A White Path) follows a young woman amid major social changes brought about by the April 19 Revolution of 1960 and the May 16 military coup of 1961. In this novel, Han addresses the identity struggles of young women as political agents who were overlooked in social discourse at that time. Although the characters and the radical nature of her themes varied depending on the period in which she was writing, she consistently explored the relationship between women and love. She was deeply concerned with how women held on to their desire and continued their journey of self-exploration in a patriarchal society, and how they could love in the process.
Reference
Short Story Collections
Sinhwaui Danae (Precipice of Myth). Sasanggye Publishing, 1960
I Haneul Mit (Beneath This Sky). Hwimun Publishing, 1965
Singwaui Yaksok (A Promise to God). Hwimun Publishing, 1968
Ileobeorin Meopeulleo (A Lost Scarf). Seoeum Publishing, 1977
Yeosu (Beautiful Waters). Taechang Publishing, 1978
Sangcheo (Scars). Goryeowon, 1990
Haengbok (Joy). Pulbit, 1999
Saranghal Ttaewa Heeojil Ttae (When You Love and When You Part Ways). Solkwahak, 2008
Ujeong (Friendship). Solkwahak, 2006 (multiple authors)
Novels
Hayan Dojeong (A White Path). Hwimun Publishing, 1964
Mosaeksidae (The Age of Exploration). Inmundang, 1986
Areumdaun Yeonghonui Norae (Hymn of the Spirit). Inmundang, 1987
Yuhogui Sewol (Years of Temptation). Inmundang, 1992
Selected Works
Singwaui Yaksok (A Promise to God). Ilsinseojeok Publishing, 1994
Delleseu Gonghangeul Tteonamyeo (Leaving Dulles Airport). Changbi Publishers, Inc., 2008
Byeolbit Sogui Gyejeol (Season in Starlight). Solkwahak, 2016
Hangungnyeoryumunhakjeonjip (The Anthology of Korean Women’s Literature). Samsung Publishing Co.,Ltd, 1967 (multiple authors)
Jungdanpyeonseonjip (Selected Works of Short Fiction). Eomungak, 1970 (multiple authors)
Jungdanpyeonseonjip 2 (Selected Works of Short Fiction, vol. 2). Eomungak, 1970 (multiple authors)
(Jeongsu)Hangungmunhakseonjip (Essential Works of Korean Literature). Hyunmoon Publishing Co., 1975 (multiple authors)
Hyeonyeokjakgajip (Selected Works of Contemporary Writers). Jeonghan Publishing, 1975 (multiple authors)
Hangukdanpyeonmunhakseonjip 2-6 (Selected Korean Short Stories, vol. 2-6). Cheolmin Publishing, 1980 (multiple authors)
Hyeondaemunhakdanpyeonmunhakjeonjip 22 (The Anthology of Modern Short Stories, vol. 22). Kumsung Publishing, 1981 (multiple authors)
Hangukdanpyeonmunhakjeonjip (The Anthology of Korean Short Fiction). Hakwon Munhwasa, 1981 (multiple authors)
Jayureul Geurineun Maeum (The Heart That Draws Freedom). Samilseojeok, 1983 (multiple authors)
Hayan Dojeong (A White Path). Samseongdang, 1983 (multiple authors)
Hangungmunhakdaeseonjip (A Comprehensive Anthology of Korean Literature). Samsung Munhwasa, 1983 (multiple authors)
Hangukyeondaemunhakjeonjip (The Anthology of Korean Modern Literature). Samsung Publishing Co.,Ltd, 1985 (multiple authors)
Hangukyeondaemunhakjeonjip 8 (The Anthology of Korean Modern Literature, vol. 8). Samsung Publishing Co.,Ltd, 1986 (multiple authors)
Urisidaeui Hanguk Munhak (Korean Literature of Our Time). Kyemongsa, 1986 (multiple authors)
Ingansa (Human Affairs). Dongsuh Publishers, 1987 (multiple authors)
Hanguk Myeongjak Danpyeonui Ihae.3 (Understanding Classic Korean Short Stories, vol. 3). Jongno Books, 1993 (multiple authors)
Uri Sidaeui Myeongjak (Masterpieces of Our Time). Sidae Munhak, 1993 (multiple authors)
Hangukdanpyeonmunhak (Korean Short Stories). Kumsung Publishing, 1994 (multiple authors)
Huin Jongisuyeom Oe (White Paper Beard and Other Works). Kumsung Publishing, 1996 (multiple authors)
Bumoiyagi (A Story About Parents). Jiseongui Saem, 1998 (multiple authors)
Junggosaengi Kkok Ilgeoya Hal Hanguk Danpyeonsoseol. 7 (Korean Short Stories Teenagers Must Read, vol. 7). Hongsin Munhwasa, 1999 (multiple authors)
Seumusareul Wihan Peminijeum Soseol (Feminist Novel for Twenty-Year-Olds). Bronze Mirror, 2002 (multiple authors)
Redi Meideu Insaeng (Ready-Made Life). Hongsin Munhwasa, 2003 (multiple authors)
Hageunchan Hanmusuk Oe (Ha Geun-chan, Han Musook, and Other Writers). Changbi Publishers, Inc., 2005
Silbimyeong Oe (The Lost Epitaph and Other Works). Prunsasangsa, 2006 (multiple authors)
Seworui Hyanggi (The Scent of Passing Time). Solkwahak, 2006 (multiple authors)
Hyeondaemunhaksang Susangjakpumjip: 1956-1970 (Hyundae Literary Award Anthology: 1956-1970). Hyundae Munhak Publishing Co., Ltd., 2008 (multiple authors)
Joeun Geon Sarajiji Anneunda (Good Things Do Not Disappear). National Academy of Arts of Republic of Korea, 2020 (multiple authors)
Yeogiga Eodumimyeo Kkeutui Kkeuchini Bichiyeo Sosanara (This Is the Darkness and the Final End, O Light, Rise). National Academy of Arts of Republic of Korea, 2021 (multiple authors)
Kkotdeureun Chamatdeon Sumeul Hankkeobeone Naeswinda (Flowers Release the Breath They Have Been Holding All at Once). National Academy of Arts of Republic of Korea, 2022 (multiple authors)
Saranghage Dura (Let Them Love). National Academy of Arts of Republic of Korea, 2023 (multiple authors)
Essays
Salui Jinsireul Chajaseo (In Search of Life’s Truth). Samtoh Co.,Ltd, 1988
Myeongjaksoseol Sogui Yeoinsang (The Portrayal of Women in Classic Novels). Literature & Thought, 1994
Sinmyeongui Kkocheuro Doraososeo (May You Return as the Flower of Divine Spirit), Book21 Publishing, 2023 (multiple authors)
Reference
Pyo, Yujin. “1950-1960nyeondae Hanmalsuk Soseolgwa Sarangui (Bul)Ganeungseong” (“The [Im]possibility of Love in Han Malsook’s Fiction of the 1950s and 1960s”). Ihwaeomunnonjip (Journal of Ehwa Korean Language and Literature), vol. 55. The Society of Ewha Korean Language and Literature, 2021
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