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Singing about Ahn Jung-geun: A Study of Korean Poetry Related to Ahn Jung-geun

  • Journal of Korean Literature
  • 2024, (49), pp.5-36
  • DOI : 10.52723/JKL.49.005
  • Publisher : The Society Of Korean Literature
  • Research Area : Humanities > Korean Language and Literature
  • Received : March 31, 2024
  • Accepted : May 1, 2024
  • Published : May 31, 2024

PARK, ByoungHoon 1

1원광대학교 종교문제연구소

Accredited

ABSTRACT

The event of Ahn Jung-geun’s assassination of Ito Hirobumi in Harbin on October 26, 1909, left a profound impression on many people both domestically and internationally. It was widely depicted in various literary forms such as novels, biographies, plays, and poetry. Among the numerous studies on Ahn Jung-geun, there has been little research on Korean-authored poetry related to him, with only a few papers discussing poems written by Chinese authors. This paper focuses on Korean-authored Chinese poetry, gasa (歌辭), and changga (唱歌) related to Ahn Jung-geun. Singing about Ahn Jung-geun, who has become an icon of anti-Japanese sentiment, became directly or indirectly linked to the expression and movement of anti-Japanese sentiment. Chinese poetry still coexists with Hangul, maintaining the vitality of the genre. It can be confirmed that expressions of sympathy, mourning, and anger towards Ahn Jung-geun’s actions and his death were conveyed mainly through personal collections published after his death or after liberation. Gasa often reference various individuals related to the anti-Japanese resistance movement, particularly in the context of militia songs and patriotic anthems, with Ahn Jung-geun frequently invoked as a symbol of anti-Japanese sentiment. One of these works was also created by a figure associated with new religions, showcasing a diverse range of aspects. Changga, unlike traditional genres, were influenced by the West and rapidly spread within the country through Japanese influence, becoming more effective in stirring anti-Japanese sentiment due to their association with melodies. Consequently, the Japanese authorities enacted laws to confiscate and search songbooks containing anti-Japanese sentiment and punished those involved. Changga continue to vividly convey the era and people who sought to elevate national consciousness by invoking Ahn Jung-geun once again. Chinese poetry and gasa were genres already attributed to ancient times during the Japanese colonial period, yet they still exerted significant influence, encapsulating the pain of colonization and determination against Japan through the icon of Ahn Jung-geun. Additionally, the newly introduced changga also contributed to this role.

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