The Significance of Compiling Kim Rip Shijip
Ryu, Yeon-seok / Yang, Dong-sik
Although Kim, Byeong-yeon, well known to people as a nickname Kim, Sat-gat was born in the noble class, he made fun of the corrupt noble class and social absurdities, and satirized them in his works throughout his life. His poems didn't affect the contemporary schools of though and the struggling of the people, but his satiric poetry were well-received by a great number of people.
The works of Kim, Byeong-yeon, which had been passed down orally were collected and edited as Kim Rip Shijip with comments by Lee, Eung-soo. But his achievements couldn't be credited properly due to his expatriation to North Korea. In North Korea, the works of Kim, Byeong-yeon were exploited to attack capitalism and the noble class, which were the enemy of the people. Although Lee, Eung-soo went away to North Korea, the satire on the society of Kim, Sat-gat is still hailed by many readers. The social conditions had been changed through the feudal times in the 19 century, the colonial period in the early 20 century, and the Korean War in 1950. Nevertheless, throughout those political and historical turmoils, Kim, Sat-gat's humor and satire have had a great influence on the public.