[Opinion] Hyun Jin-Gun’s House in Buam-dong

When the nation was gripped by the 1997 foreign currency crisis, many recalled ‘Poor Man’s Wife,’ a classic novel written by Hyun Jin-gun. Struggling to deal with the reality - a country on the verge of bankruptcy, people at that time were all poor man’s wife.

The short story is about a woman who had to sell an embroidered jacket, a gift from her parents, to a pawnshop for her family. It was some 80 years ago when the story was released, but there are still a lot of poor men’s wives around. The book has been with us for so long because it depicts bitter-sweetness of everyday lives in a dramatic and yet realistic way.

And the late novelist continues to gain recognition for his works. ‘Muyoung Tower,’ a series published by Donga Ilbo from 1938 to 1939 tells the story of Asadal who built Seogga Tower in Bulguk Temple. It was a refreshing surprise that a history fiction centered on a humble hero instead of a nobleman or a loyal family. Hyun’s works, such as ‘Poor Man’s Wife,’ ‘Drinking Society’ and ‘A Lucky Day,’ reflect his way of looking back the history.

It was Hyun’s 100th anniversary in 2000, but there were only low-key celebrations. Hyun, who was born in a rich family in Daegu and studied in Japan and China, fell into ill fortune in his later years. He died young at the age of 43. And when he was working for Donga Ilbo in 1936, he was accused of mishandling the Japanese flag and put into jail.

His grave used to be located in Seocho-gu, Seoul before it disappeared amid a land development boom. The only place where we can find traces of his life is an old-fashioned house left in Buam-dong, Seoul. While he was staying there, it has been said, he wrote ‘Muyoung Tower’ and ‘Heukchi Sangji’ raising hens.

Now the house is left abandoned. All that we did was posting a board that says ‘Where Hyun Jin-gun used to live.’ I don’t want to elaborate on how other countries honor their great literary minds, because it will be like crying over spilled milk. Houses where our literary men lived during their lifetime have all but gone.

That doesn’t mean, however, we cannot do about what is still left. The government must buy Hyun Jin-gun’s house right away and build a memorial hall. Literature is an intellectual symbol of an age we live. For literature to thrive on, it is important to honor great literary minds.