“A new world is arriving. One of warmth and plenty. We have stood for that day. The Donghak Army never falls.” (Deulbul [Wildfire], Sejong Public Publishing Corporation, 1976)
Yoo Hyunjong is an author who has newly illuminated historical figures with his dramatic style.
1. Life
Yoo Hyunjong was born in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province in 1940. His family struggled after the Korean War and moved to Okgu (now part of Gunsan) in the same province. It is said that the house they moved to was where the novelist, Ch’ae Man-sik, used to live. Yoo became a boxer to survive but attended the Creative Writing Department of Seorabeol University of Arts on a scholarship to pursue his dream of becoming an author. In 1961, while he was at college, he won the 3rd Jayu Munhak New Writer Award for his short story “TteutIsseul Su Eomneun Dolmengi” (“The Meaningless Stone”), marking his debut.
He serialized Deulbul (Wildfire), a novel exploring the Donghak Peasant Movement, in Hyundae Munhak from 1972 to 1974. This work received the 9th Hankook Ilbo Creative Literary Award. Building on its success, he began serializing the historical novel Yeongaesomun in Dong-A Ilbo in 1975, an unprecedented accomplishment for a young writer. The novel became so popular that during the Dong-A Ilbo Blank Advertisement Incident—caused by the Yushin regime under Park Chung-hee suppressing the media—readers paid for advertisements themselves, claiming they read the newspaper for the sake of Yeongaesomun. In 2006, an epic historical drama series of the same name aired on SBS, running 100 episodes.
Yoo actively contributed to creative writing, authoring over thirty serial novels throughout a career spanning more than sixty years. He served as executive director of the Korea Television and Radio Writers Association, board member of the Korean Writers Association and International PEN Korean Center, vice chairman of the Korean Literature Association, vice president of the Literature Society, and was a professor of Korean Literature at Chung-Ang University.
2. Writing
Yoo was determined to confront the absurd reality and wrote mainly about historical heroes and the people’s movement. His debut short story “Tteut Isseul SuEomneun Dolmengi” (“The Meaningless Stone”) exposes the senseless divide between North and South, focusing on soldiers stationed at the demilitarized zone. In his novel Bulmanui Dosi (A City of Discontent), a self-made young intellectual catches the eye of a conglomerate CEO by chance and gets on the fast-track to success. Though popular fiction, the novel explores the unequal power structures of contemporary society and the morally corrupt side of chaebol.
Greatly interested in history, he wrote about the Donghak Peasant War, the Sambyeolcho’s resistance against the Mongols, and the founding histories of Balhae andJoseon. Deulbul (Wildfire), the novel that made his name, explores the largest people’s movement in Korean history—the Donghak Movement. It depicts Im Yeosam, a heroic figure passed down through oral tradition, as the protagonist who struggles in life and becomes self-aware. One of Yoo’s major works, Yeongaesomun, was published as an epic historical novel serialized over more than four years and is considered one of the top four Korean historical novels alongside Yi Kwangsu’s Heuk (The Soil).Through Yeongaesomun, a Goguryeo general who remained undefeated during the 20-year war against Tang Dynasty and advanced deep into Tang territory, Yoo presents his own Great Man Theory. Beyond this, he wrote Yongui Hyeongjedeul(Brothers of the Dragon), a historical novel depicting the life of General Kim Inchan, a key figure in the founding of Joseon. He also authored numerous works inspired by religion, including Sado Baul (St. Paul), a novel following Saint Paul’s journey from evangelism to martyrdom; Saranggwa Yongseo (Love and Forgiveness), a chronicle-style historical novel about Pastor Son Yang Won; and Yonaui Adeul (Jonah’s Son), a collection of faith confessions.
Reference
Anthologies
Hanguk Munhak Jeonjip 67: Bulmanui Dosi (The Complete Collection of Korean Literature, Volume 67: A City of Discontent), Samsung Publishing Co.,Ltd, 1972
Hanguk Hyeondae Jangpyeonmunhak Jeonjip 2: Deulbul(The Complete Collection of Korean Modern Literature, Volume 2: Wildfire), Kyungmi Publishing, 1979
Selected Works
Geutorok Oraen Manggak (So Long an Oblivion), Woneumgak, 1966
Janghwasa(Jang the Painter), Dongsuh Publishers, 1975
Mudohoeui Gwonyu (Invitation to the Ball), Iljisa,1976
YeoreumedoIpi Eomneun Namu (A Leafless Tree Even in Summer), Samjungdang, 1977
Seomjingang(Seomjin River), Gyomoonsa, 1979
Heukji(Black Soil), Sejong Public Publishing Corporation, 1980
DugoOn Heonsa (The Tribute I Left Behind), Haengrim Publishing, 2003
Novels
Bulmanui Dosi (A City of Discontent), Moonye Publishing, 1968
Deulbul(Wildfire), Sejong Public Publishing Corporation, 1976
Chowonui Gil (The Meadow’s Path), Yeohaksaengsa, 1977
Sambyeolcho(Two-volume set), Dong-A Ilbo Publishing, 1980
Yeongaesomun(Eight-volume set), Eunae, 1980
Cheonsanbuk-ro(Northern Silk Road) (Four-volume set), Eunae, 1981
Songaksan(Mount Songak), Samjungdang, 1983
Cheonnyeonhan(A Grudge of a Thousand Years) (Three-volume set), Soseolmunhaksa, 1983
Baengmagoji: Kim Jong-o Janggun Ildaegi (Baengmagoji: TheLife of General Kim Jong-o), Eulji Public Publishing Corporation, 1985
Silk Road (Four-volume set), Samjungdang, 1986
Imkkeokjeong (Eight-volume set), Haengrim Publishing, 1986
KungYe, Sasayeon, 1986
Myoch’ong(Three-volume set), Haengrim Publishing,1987
DaeJo-yeong (Five-volume set), Taeseong, 1990
Saseol Jeonggamnok (Private Records of Prophecy)(Four-volume set), Useok, 1991
Nodo(Raging Waves) (Two-volume set), Minjok and Munhak Publishing, 1991
Cheonsan(Tian Shan) (Three-volume set), Useok, 1991
Gyebaeguihon (Gyebaek’s Spirit) (Two-volume set), Yeha, 1991
Supsogui Binteo, (An Empty Clearing in the Forest), Yeha, 1992
Haewang(The Emperor of the Sea), Useok, 1992
Nansebu(Chronicles of Turbulent Times)(Four-volume set), Useok, 1993
Uijawang(King Uija) (Two-volume set), Yeha, 1993
Jegugui Byeol (The Star of the Empire)(Four-volume set), Useok, 1995
Dareun Jida (The Falling Moon) (Two-volume set), Samtoh Co.,Ltd, 1996
Nangnyangseongui Bom (Spring in Luoyang) (Five-volume set), Samtoh Co.,Ltd, 1996
Wanhaeng Yeolcha (The Local Train), Shinwon Publishing, 1999
Paewang Byeolhui (Farewell My Concubine)(Five-volume set), Shinwon Publishing, 2000
Muinsidaeui Sambyeolcho (Age of Warriors and Sambyeolcho)(Three-volume set), Daesan Publishing, 2003
Saranggwa Yongseo (Love and Forgiveness), Hongsungsa, 2010
Yongui Hyeongjedeul (Brothers of the Dragon), Gimm-Young Publishers, Inc., 2012
Georeoseorado Garira: Doraon Iseungman (I Shall Go, Even on Foot: The Return of Rhee Syngman), JUNE, 2012
Sado Baul (St. Paul) (Two-volume set),Citadel, 2016
Joseonui Seuseung Yu Chang (Joseon’s Teacher Yoo Chang), Shina Publishing, 2021
Cheonjae Cheonmunhakja Geumheon Ryu Bangtaek(The Genius Astronomer: Ryu Bangtaek, Known as Geumheon), Gangnamnews Publishing, 2023
Geonguk Daetongnyeong Iseungman: Yu Hyenjong Silloksoseol(Founding President Rhee Syngman: A Chronicle by Yoo Hyunjong) (Two-volume set), Gayeon, 2024
Scripts
Samgukgi(The Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms), KBS 1TV, 1992-1993
Children’s Books
Peullutareukeu Yeongungjeon (Plutarch’s Lives), Kinderland, 2007
Essays
Yonaui Adeul: Jakga Yuhyeonjongui Sinanggobaegesei(Jonah’s Son: Faith Confessions by Yoo Hyunjong), Bom, 2009
Abeojiui Binjari (Father’s Empty Seat), Shinwon Publishing, 1997 (multi-authors)
2012nyeondo Hangukdaepyo Myeongsanmunseonjip (A Collection of Essential Korean Essays), Saehanguk Literary Association, 2012(multi-authors)
Sinmyeongui Kkocheuro Doraososeo: I eoryeong Chumo Esei(May You Return as a Flower of the Divine Spirit: Memorial Essay for LeeO-young), Book21 Publishing, 2023
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