Yi Kwang-su

Yi Kwang-su (Korean: 이광수 李光洙, 4 March 1892 – 25 October 1950) was a famous Korean independence activist, writer and poet. He was also called Chunwon (춘원 春園), Goju(고주 孤舟), which were his nicknames.

Life

Early years

Yi was 11 years old when his both parents died from cholera, and he was orphaned. He was moved to Seoul, and through money given by anomymous benefactors, Yi was able to study overseas in Japan in 1906. He studied at Taisey Middle School and Meiji University. During that time, he started writing novels and poetry.

Writing and independence movement

In 1910, Yi returned to Korea and started teaching at Oshan Elementary School (오산학교; 五山學校). He resigned (left his job) in 1915. In 1916, he studied overseas again in Japan, entering Waseda University, but he dropped out in his third year. In 1918, he went into political exile in Sanghai because of his involvement with Korean independence movements and New Korea Youngman Praty (신한청년당; 新韓靑年黨). In 1919, he was a functionary of Provisional Gavement of Korea (대한민국 임시정부; 大韓民國臨時政府).

Yi returned to Korea in 1919. He concentrated on writing novels and poems. During the 1930s, he was a reporter and journalist for Dong ah Il-bo, Maeil Sinmun and The Chosun.

Later years

Yi was an agent and a follower of Ahn Chang-ho, and was part of his group of officers, Heungsadan, in 1922. In 1938, he was imprisoned in Seodaemun Prison for one year before being released. Yi retired in 1944. He died in 1950, from tuberculosis and lung disease. He was aged 58.

Works

Eorin Huisaeng (어린 희생)
Mujong (무정)
Jaesaeng (재생)
Sonyunui Biae (소년의 비애)
Gaechukja (개척자)
Mumyong (무명)
Heuq (흙)
Crownprince Maui (마의태자)
Danjongaesa (단종애사)
Youjong (유정)
Sarang (사랑)
Sejo of Joseon (세조대왕)
Wife of Revolusionist (혁명가의 아내)
Aeyokuipiahn (애욕의 피안)
Halmum (할멈)
Gashil (가실 嘉實)
Nauigobaek (나의 고백)

Historical books

Wonhyodaesa (원효대사)
Death of Yichadon (이차돈의 죽음)
biography Yi Sunsin (전기 이순신)
biography Ahn Changho (전기 안창호)

See other

References

Yi Kwang-su^{[permanent dead link]} (in Korean)
Mujong (The Heartless) (in English)
Yi Gwang-su: Pro-Japanese? (in English)
Queering Korean Literature: Author and Activist Yi Gwang-su Archived 2012-10-23 at the Wayback Machine (in English)
Yi Kwang-su:britannica Archived 2014-12-06 at the Wayback Machine (in Korean)
이광수의 문학 세계 Archived 2014-12-14 at the Wayback Machine (in Korean)
민족 개조론 Archived 2002-03-21 at the Wayback Machine (in Korean)

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