Korean Books and Movies:A Creative Synergy

As is widely known, on December 28, 1895, the Lumière Brothers held the first-everscreening of projected motion pictures at the Salon Indien du Grand Café in Paris,France. In Korea, although opinions on the exact date differ, existing documents tellus that motion pictures began screening before 1903. During this period, films werescreened by foreign diplomats at hotels or parties, or at promotional events heldby cigarette companies from the West. And just like in any other country, Koreanswitnessing motion pictures for the first time were dazzled, and in some instancesthat seem absurd now, there were viewers that, surprised by the train projected onthe screen, bolted out of the room.Due to conditions stemming from colonization and underdevelopment, earlyKorean films faced many difficulties. The films being produced in the 1910s and the20s were mostly documents of Korean folk customs and ways of life; also, duringthis period, “kinodramas”—a modified form of theater that mixed scenes frommovies into plays—were often screened. After 1920, traditional Korean novels suchas The Story of Chunhyang, The Story of SimCheong, and Heartlessness, Lee Kwangsoo’s popular contemporary novel, were adapted for the big screen. An especiallynoteworthy film from this period is Na Yun-kyoo’s Arirang (1926). Even thoughthe print no longer exists, Arirang, which was based on an original screenplay,is remembered as a major artistic accomplishment and a cinematic expressionof national identity. Even after the 1930s, many literary figures continued theirrelationship with cinema, and film adaptations of important literary works remainedpopular among viewers.Historically, literature and film continuously maintained a conversation in Korea.Filmmakers sought strong storylines from novels and wished to reach the levelof artistic excellence associated with literature. On the other hand, films inspirednovelists to reach a new level of visual excellence, and various cinematic methodshelped expand the literary language. In Korea, literature and cinema experienced,documented, and conversed with the rapidly changing tide of Korean modernhistory; together, they cultivated and enriched the Korean cultural landscape.This edition of list features a special section on Korean literature and cinema.We hope this rather brief examination of the path taken by Korean literature andcinema can provide the reader with an opportunity to feel and understand thediversity and potential of Korean culture. 

By Kim Dongshik(editorial board member)