Chung So-sung facts for kids

Chung So-sung (born February 11, 1944 – died October 24, 2020) was an important writer from South Korea. He wrote many novels and short stories. His works often explored deep ideas about life, history, and the pain of a divided country.

Life of Chung So-sung

Chung So-sung was born in Bonghwa, Gyeongsangbuk-do, in 1944. He studied French literature at Seoul National University. He earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees there. Later, he went to France and received his doctorate in French literature from the University of Grenoble III.

From 1985 to 2009, he taught French literature at Dankook University. Before that, in 1977, while teaching at Chonnam University, he started his writing career. His first story, “Jilju” (meaning "Rush"), was published in a magazine called Hyundae Munhak.

In 1983, he published his novel Cheonnyeoneul naerineun nun (The Snow of Thousand Years). A few years later, in 1985, he published Atene ganeun bae (The Ship Bound for Athens). This book was very successful and won him the Dong-in Literary Award. This award is one of the most respected literary prizes in Korea.

Chung So-sung wrote 5 collections of short stories and 14 novels. Some of his famous works include Tteugeo-un gang (The Hot River), Yeojaui seong (The Sex of Women), and Du anae (Two Wives). He tried to show real-life experiences in his stories. He also explored the meaning of life through the characters and historical events in his books.

Besides the Dongin Literary Award, he also won the Yun Dongju Literature Award in the same year (1985). In 2015, his hometown of Bonghwa honored him with the Bonghwa Artist Award.

Chung So-sung's Writing Style

Chung So-sung's novella Atene ganeun bae (The Ship Bound for Athens) is a special story. It talks about the historical reality of Korea being divided into North and South. It uses ideas from Greek mythology to show the pain and sense of destiny around this division.

This story has two main ideas. One idea is about the narrator's journey. It shows how real-life pain, like the division of Korea, can be seen within a mystical or mythical world. For example, the story mentions the River Simois from the legends of Troy. This river helps connect the pain of myths to real-world suffering.

The second idea is about the main character, Juha. Her journey shows how myths and painful events seem to repeat themselves in real life. Juha cannot achieve her dream of reuniting with her father. This shows how the pain in reality can feel like a repeating myth.

So, the story explores how we find real pain within myths, and how the pain of myths seems to repeat in our reality. It connects ancient stories of suffering to modern-day struggles.

Another important novel by Chung So-sung is Du anae (Two Wives). This book also deals with the sadness of a divided country. It shows the lasting effects of the division through the story of one family. The main character, Han Cheol-wu, married in North Korea. But because of the Korean War, he was separated from his first wife and married again in South Korea. Through his story, the author shows how people faced difficult choices and beliefs during that time.

Even though the book is about war, it is written in a very beautiful and emotional way. It looks for the meaning of love and life during wartime. The novel is also special because it uses different Korean dialects, like those from Hamgyong-do, Pyongan-do, and Gyeongsang-do.

In 1999, Du anae was chosen by a government organization in Korea to be translated into French. This showed how highly regarded the book was.

Chung So-sung's works often show the deep scars of Korea's division and the pain of separation. However, his writing is not just about political ideas. He was also very interested in Korean history. He wrote historical novels like Daedongyeojido (Daedongyeojido). This book tells the story of Kim Jeong-ho, a famous mapmaker from the Joseon Dynasty. Another historical novel, Taeyangin (The Sun People), is about Lee Jema, a scholar and doctor from the late Joseon Dynasty. This book also explores the origins of Sasang typology, a traditional Korean medical theory. Taeyangin was even considered for a TV series by MBC, a major Korean broadcasting company.

Works

Short story collections

• Atene ganeun bae (아테네 가는 배 The Ship Bound for Athens), Dongsuh Books, 1986.
• Tteugeo-un gang (뜨거운 강 The Hot River), Dong-A Publishing, 1988.
• Ta-inui siseon (타인의 시선 The Gaze of Others), Chungrim, 1988.
• Honhyeolui ttang (혼혈의 땅 The Land of the Mixed-Blood), Chinwu, 1990.
• Byeorange maedalin sanae (벼랑에 매달린 사내 The Man Hanging From the Cliff), Dong-A Publishing, 1991.

Novels

• Cheonnyeoneul naerineun nun (천년을 내리는 눈 The Snow of Thousand Years), Jungumsa, 1983.
• Akyeongui jib (악령의 집 The House of Demons), Goryeowon, 1989.
• Yeojaui seong (여자의 성 The Sex of Women), Segye Ilbo, 1990.
• Angae naerineun gang (안개 내리는 강 The Foggy River, 2 Volumes), Open Books, 1990.
• Garima tan yeoin (가리마 탄 여인 The Woman With Parted Hair, 2 Volumes), Chosun Ilbo, 1991.
• Jebikkot (제비꽃 Violet), Jayu Munhaksa, 1992.
• Choehu-ui yeonin (최후의 연인 The Last Lover), Goryeowon, 1993.
• Sarangui wonjoe (사랑의 원죄 The Original Sin of Love, 2 Volumes), JoongAng Ilbo, 1994.
• Daedongyeojido (대동여지도 Daedongyeojido, 5 Volumes), Jayu Munhaksa, 1994.
• Unmyeong (운명 Destiny), Byeokseojeong, 1996.
• Taeyangin (태양인 The Sun People, 2 Volumes), Yolimwon, 1997.
• Du anae (두 아내 Two Wives, 2 Volumes), Chanseom Publishing, 1999.
• Baramui yeoin (바람의 여인 The Woman of the Wind), Silcheon Munhak, 2005.
• Seolhyang (설향), Poem and Essay, 2012.

Works in translation

• Les deux épouses (French)

Awards

• 17th Dongin Literary Award (1985)
• 1st Yun Dongju Literature Award (1985)
• 1st Manwu Park Young-joon Literary Prize (1988)
• 29th Woltan Literature Award (1995)
• 8th Muksa Ryu Juhyeon Literary Prize (2012)

See also

In Spanish: Jung Soseong para niños