“Park Bum Shin’s protagonists shine with a kind of tragic moral purity. Though pure and righteous, they cannot help but be defeated and cast aside in a world that moves at a relentless pace.” (Kwon, Bodeurae. “Sal, Geu Cheonpyeonillyulloseoui Saeroum” [“Life: Newness in Monotony”]. Changjakgwa Bipyeong [The Quarterly Changbi], no. 111. Changjakgwa Bipyeongsa, 2001)
Park Bum Shin is a novelist who explores human nature through lyrical prose.
1. Life
Born in 1946, Park Bum Shin made his literary debut by winning the JoongAng Ilbo New Year’s Literary Contest for “Yeoreumui Janhae” (“Remains of Summer”) while working as a teacher under difficult family and financial circumstances. He became a full-time writer after the success of “Jugeumboda Gipeun Jam” (“Sleep Deeper Than Death”), which was serialized in the magazine Elegance. After announcing a hiatus in his career in 1993, he turned to farming before returning to writing in 1997 with the publication of Huin Soga Kkeuneun Sure (The Cart Pulled by a White Ox). In 2016, amid reports of sexual violence in Korean literary circles, he was also subject to allegations. As a result, he officially suspended his writing and returned in 2021 with the poetry collection Gusireong Gusireong Ilheun (Grumbling at Seventy).
2. Writing
Park’s writing can be divided into before and after his hiatus in the 1990s. His pre-hiatus works portray the confusion and resentment felt by the younger generation in a world where they have not only lost their established values but also their future prospects due to political oppression and industrialization. Rather than foregrounding realist techniques or social criticism, his novels focus on the melancholic state of mind of individuals or the grief that follows failure. Due to its emphasis on sentiment and emotion, one researcher has described Park’s works as a form of “male melodrama” that centers on the tragedies of men defeated in real life. Park has reflected on his own work, stating that as “a young unknown writer” he wrote critical realist fiction exploring class conflict, while as “a popular writer” he began to focus more on sentimental novels. He published a number of works between the 1970s and 1980s, gaining considerable popularity and fame before taking a hiatus in 1993, during which he spent time farming while exploring new interests. He resumed his writing career in 1997 with the publication of Huin Soga Kkeuneun Sure (The Cart Pulled by a White Ox). Although he produced novels such as Hyanggiroun Umul Iyagi (The Story of a Fragrant Well) that resemble his earlier works, he also published more distinct works such as Cholatse, Gosanja, and Eun-gyo, collectively known as the “desire trilogy.” During the period in which he serialized Cholatse and Yuri, he also attempted to publish them online. In addition to fiction, he has written many poems and essays.
Reference
Short Story Collections and Novels
Tokkiwa Jamsuham (The Rabbit and the Submarine). Hongsungsa, 1978
Deot (The Trap). Eunae Publishing, 1979
Sijineup (Sijin Town). Goryeowon, 1980
Gyeoulgang, Hanuibaram (Winter River and Spring Breeze). JoongAng Ilbo Publishing, 1981
Mijiui Huinsae (A Mysterious White Bird). Nanam Publishing House, 1982
Hyeongjangui Sin (The God of the Execution Grounds). Haenglim Publishing, 1982
Taeyangje Sang-Ha (Sun Festival, vols. 1-2). Haenglim Publishing, 1983
Sikgu (Household). Nanam Publishing House, 1983
Kkumgwa Soemot (Dream and Steel Nail). Juwoo, 1986
Urideul Tteugeoun Norae (Our Passionate Song). Cheonghan Munhwasa, 1986
Puripcheoreom Nupda (Lie Like a Blade of Grass). Goryeowon, 1986
Doranumneun Hon (The Soul That Turns). Goryeowon, 1987
Burui Nara 1-2 (Land of Fire, vols. 1-2). Pyeongminsa, 1987
Jamdeulmyeon Tain (Strangers When Asleep). Cheonghan Munhwasa, 1989
Jugeumboda Gipeun Jam (Sleep Deeper Than Death). Cheongmaek, 1989
Hyunggi (A Weapon). Hyundae Munhak Publishing Co., Ltd., 1990
Baram, Chotbul Geurigo Seumusal (Wind, Candle, and Twenty Years of Age). Inui, 1990
Suyoireun Mochareuteureul Deunneunda (On Wednesdays I Listen to Mozart). Haenglim Publishing, 1991
Supeun Jamdeulji Anneunda (The Forest Never Sleeps). Goryeowon, 1992
Ileun Kkum Nameun Sigan (Lost Dream, Time Left Behind). JoongAng Ilbo Publishing, 1992
Teul (Structure). Segyesa, 1993
Majimak Yeonin 1-2 (Last Lover, vols. 1-2). Jayu Munhaksa, 1994
Gaeppul 1-2 (Jack Squat, vols. 1-2). Segyesa, 1994
Killimanjaroui Nunkkot (The Snow Flower of Kilimanjaro). Hainaim, 1997
Huin Soga Kkeuneun Sure (The Cart Pulled by a White Ox). Changjakgwa Bipyeongsa, 1997
Chimmugui Jip 1-2 (Silent House, vols. 1-2). Munhakdongne Publishing Corp., 1999
Hyanggiroun Umul Iyagi (The Story of a Fragrant Well). Changjakgwa Bipyeongsa, 2000
Oedeung The Outdoor Lamp). Irum, 2001
Deoreoun Chaeksang (A Dirty Desk). Munhakdongne Publishing Corp., 2003
Binbang (Empty Room). Irum, 2004
Namaseute (Namaste). Hankyoreh, 2005
Jureum (Wrinkles). Random House Korea, 2006
Baikal Geu Nopgo Gipeun (Baikal, So High and Deep). Munidang, 2007
Gosanja. Munhakdongne Publishing Corp., 2009
Kkaesogeumgwa Oktteolme (Freckle-Face and Plain Jane). Irum, 2009
Business. Jaeum&Moeum Publishing, 2010
Naui Soneun Malgubeuro Byeonhago (My Hands Turn into Horseshoes). Munye Joongang, 2011
Sogeum (Salt.) Hankyoreh, 2013
Cholatse. Prunsoop, 2013
Dangsin (The Old Companion). Munhakdongne Publishing Corp., 2015
Sosohan Punggyeong (Simple Landscapes). Jaeum&Moeum Publishing, 2015
Eun-gyo. Munhakdongne Publishing Corp., 2015
Essays
Naui Sarang Naui Gyeolbyeol (My Love, My Goodbye). Cheonghan Munhwasa, 1986
Wanseongdoeji Aneun Geosi Areumdapda (What Is Incomplete Is Beautiful). Prunsoop, 1989
Jiul Su Eomneun Sarangeun Areumdapseumnida (Love That Cannot Be Erased Is Beautiful). Seongin Munhwasa, 1990
Jeokge Soyuhaneun Jaga Jayuropda (Those Who Possess Less Are Free). Jayu Munhaksa, 1994
Sugege Bonaeneun Seoreunyeoseot Tongui Pyeonji (Thirty-Six Letters to Suk). Jayu Munhaksa, 1996
Jeoleun Saseume Gwanhan Eunyu (A Metaphor for a Young Deer). Gipeungang, 2002
Sarameuro Areumdapge Saneun Il (Living Beautifully as a Person). Irum, 2003
Bakbeomsinui Haru (Park Bum Shin’s Day). Neulpureun Sonamu, 2004
Namjadeul, Sseulsseulhada (Men Are Lonely). Prunsoop, 2005
Biuni Hyanggiropda (Fragrant After Emptying). Random House Korea, 2006
Bakbeomsini Ingneun Jeoleun Jakgadeul (Young Writers Read by Park Bum Shin). Munhakdongne Publishing Corp., 2007
Mam Meogeun Daero Sarayo (Live What You Decide). Tree of Thought, 2007
Kaillaseu Ganeun Gil (The Path to Kailash). Munidang, 2007
Sandaneun Geoseun (What It Means to Live). Hankyoreh, 2010
Naui Sarangeun Kkeunnaji Anatda (My Love Is Not Over). EunHaeng NaMu Publishing Co., Ltd, 2012
Geuriun Naega Onda (The Self I Long for Comes). Mangrove Forest, 2013
Healing. Yolimwon Publishing Co., 2014
Jakga Ireum, Bakbeomsin (Park Bum Shin, the Author). Munhakdongne Publishing Corp., 2015
Yuri. EunHaeng NaMu Publishing Co., Ltd, 2021
Haru (Day). Siwol Book, 2021
Dugeungeorineun Goyo (Fluttering Silence). Param Book, 2023
Sullye (Pilgrimage). Param Book, 2023
Poetry
Sani Umjigigo Mureun Meomunda (The Mountain Moves and the Water Stands Still). Munhakdongne Publishing Corp., 2003
Jebinabiui Kkum (The Common Peacock Butterfly’s Dream). MINUMSA Publishing Group, 2005
Gusireong Gusireong Ilheun (Grumbling at Seventy). A Writer’s House with a Window, 2021
Children’s Books
Byeoriwa Ttottowa Na (Byeol, Ttotto, and Me). Daekyo, 1996
Endolpin Peurojekteu (Project Endorphin). JoongangBooks, 2000
Saekki Kkachi Hayangiwa Gangaji Ttotto (Baby Magpie Hayang and Puppy Ttotto). Daekyo, 2009
Reference
Kwon, Bodeurae. “Sal, Geu Cheonpyeonillyulloseoui Saeroum - Bagwanseo, Bakbeomsin, Seongseokje Soseol” (“Life: Newness in Monotony—Novels of Park Wan-suh, Park Bum Shin, and Song Sokze”). Changjakgwa Bipyeong [The Quarterly Changbi], no. 111. Changjakgwa Bipyeongsa, 2001
Kim, Eun-ha. “Namseongjeok “Patoseu”Roseoui Daejungsoseolgwa Cheongnyeondeurui Ban(反) Seongjangseosa - Bakbeomsinui 70nyeondae Huban Soseoreul Jungsimeuro” (“Popular Fiction as Masculine Pathos and Distorted Coming-of-Age in Youth: Park Bum Shin’s Late 1970s Novels”). Dongyangmunhwayeongu (Youngsan Journal of East Asian Cultural Studies), no. 15, Institute of East Asian Cultural Studies, Youngsan University, 2013.
Park, So-ran. “Soseolga Bakbeomsin-‘Nae Soseoreun Gyeolguk Sarameuro Ganeun Gil’” (“Novelist Park Bum Shin: ‘My Novels Ultimately Lead to People’”). Minjok 21 Journal, no. 37, Minkjok 21, 2007.
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