Remembering Park Taewon: A Literary Legacy and Family Reunion

On July 10, 1986, renowned novelist Park Taewon (박태원), known for his works such as 'The Daily Life of Mr. Kubo' (소설가 구보씨의 일일) and 'Scenery of the Cheonggye Stream' (천변 풍경), passed away at the age of 77. His literary contributions captured the essence of modern Seoul in the 1930s with a refined style that influenced many writers who followed.

A poignant moment occurred during the 14th family reunion event for separated families on June 19, 2006, at the Onjeonggak Rest Area in Mount Kumgang. Park Seol-young (박설영), Park Taewon's eldest daughter, expressed her surprise upon discovering that her nephew, Bong Joon-ho (봉준호), was a famous film director. At that time, Bong was gaining recognition for his film 'The Host' (괴물), following the success of 'Memories of Murder' (살인의 추억) three years earlier. He would later achieve global acclaim with his Oscar-winning film 'Parasite' (기생충).

On that day, Seol-young reunited with her siblings, So-young (소영) and Jae-young (재영), after 55 years apart. So-young, Bong Joon-ho's mother, often remarked that her son inherited his artistic sensibility from his grandfather. Seol-young, who had a career as an English professor at Pyongyang University of Mechanical Engineering until her retirement in 1997, shared her desire to see her nephew's films.

Park Taewon was a key figure in the modernist literary movement of the 1930s, and his works have been revisited by later authors, including Choi In-hun and Joo In-seok, who drew inspiration from his style. He was also a member of the literary group Kuunhoe, alongside poets such as Lee Sang (이상) and Kim Gi-rim (김기림).

In the aftermath of the Korean War, Park Taewon defected to North Korea, leaving behind his wife and five children. His family fled to the south during the 1.4 Retreat, but his eldest daughter, Seol-young, remained in Seoul and later followed her father to the North, resulting in a separation that lasted over fifty years.

After facing a ban on his work in 1956 due to political affiliations, Park was reinstated in 1960 and later remarried to Kwon Young-hee (권영희), a known figure in the literary community. He began writing 'The Peasant War of 1894' (갑오농민전쟁) in 1977, but due to blindness, his wife transcribed his dictations to complete the work.

Park Taewon’s death was reported by the Chosun Ilbo on July 13, 1986, marking a significant moment in the history of North Korean literature, as mentioning the names of defected writers was taboo at the time. It wasn't until two years later, on July 19, 1988, that the South Korean government officially lifted the ban on his works, allowing for the publication of his and other defected authors' literature.

In 2016, on the 30th anniversary of his passing, his eldest son, Il-young (일영), published a biography titled 'The Life of Mr. Kubo' (소설가 구보씨의 일생) to honor his father's legacy.

Additionally, it is noteworthy that General Baek Seon-yeop, a hero of the Korean War, passed away on July 10, 2020, at the age of 100.