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The study on diaries of Oh Yeongjin

Kim, Youn Mi 1

1계명대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

In this study I intended to review the diaries recorded by Oh Yeongjin (1958.7.17~1959.12.31). The Period from 1958 t0 1959 belongs to the heyday of Korean films. Also Oh Yeongjin who was active as a film critic and a writer played a pivotal role in this period. In that time, he actively worked in the center of culture and politics and got into details of these various experiences in his diary. Therefore, his diary is a crucial text which can give new perspectives to society, culture and politics as well as Korean films. In 1958, it records the details of his works, building the foundation of global network and military film-making through acting as Asia Foundation consultant. In his diary, there is the draft of the letter which would be sent to Asia Foundation, suggesting that “works that plays in Asia Film festival should be dubbed into the native language of the area where they are played” and “There should be the installation of the special institute for the improvement of film art and the development of tech, and collaboration.” Also in this document, there are experiences that he visited the military units and the processes building the foundation of environment of military film-making by arranging the meeting between private film agency and the Department of Defense. In 1959, it records a plagiarism scandal of <Rebellion of teenagers> and <Life of differential pressure>, legal action against it and resentments about losing the possession of the scenario, <The independence association and young man, Syngman Rhee>. The year of 1959 was the period for Oh Yeongjin to increase his victim mentality, but this time of year was also the period that he participated to the new film movement with young critics. In addition, he records that he met Maccacy, a former military man, for the exchange of films in New York and the process of trying making the meeting with movie professionals such as the company of Columbia for selling of <Wedding Day>. He started musical adaptation of <Wedding Day> for its run on Broadway and he revealed the disappointment about Americans and missionaries during the problem-solving process of Holy Picture property. Likewise, Oh Yeongjin recorded process of public events, and published the works based on them to a daily newspaper or magazines. However, published works were not exactly same with his documents, because his personal feelings entered into it. For Oh Yeong-Jin, diaries was more considered as an method that reach to self-awareness accepting outside language ideology than of record. With this, it can be found in his diaries that Oh Yeongjin’s Political unconscious is endless culture war with the empires.

Citation status

* References for papers published after 2023 are currently being built.

This paper was written with support from the National Research Foundation of Korea.