Exploring the Legacy of Park Taewon and His Family

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 legacy continues to resonate, especially highlighted during the 14th family reunion event for separated families held at the Onjeonggak Rest Area in Mount Kumgang on June 19, 2006. There, Park Seol-young (박설영), his 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 'Memories of Murder' (살인의 추억) and was about to release 'The Host' (괴물), which would further establish him as a leading figure in cinema.

Seol-young, who had been separated from her family for 55 years, reunited with her siblings, including her younger sister So-young (소영) and brother Jae-young (재영). She shared that So-young often remarked that Bong Joon-ho inherited his artistic sensibility from their grandfather. Seol-young, who had a career as an English professor at Pyongyang University of Mechanical Engineering until her retirement in 1997, expressed her desire to watch her nephew's films.

Park Taewon was a pivotal figure in 1930s modernist literature, capturing the essence of Seoul's urban landscape with his refined writing style. His influence extended to later writers, who drew inspiration from his unique perspective. Notably, in the early 1970s, Choi In-hun published 'The Daily Life of Mr. Kubo,' and in 1995, Joo In-seok released 'A Day in the Life of Mr. Kubo,' both paying homage to Park's work.

A friend of poet Lee Sang (이상), Park was also a member of the literary group Koo In-hui, alongside notable figures like Lee Tae-joon (이태준) and Jeong Ji-yong (정지용). During the Korean War, he left for the North to meet Lee Tae-joon, leaving behind his wife and five children. While his family fled to the south during the 1.4 Retreat, his eldest daughter Seol-young remained in Seoul and eventually followed her father to the North, resulting in a separation that lasted over fifty years.

In the North, Park faced challenges, including a ban on his work in 1956 due to his association with the South Korean Workers' Party, but he was reinstated in 1960. He remarried Kwon Young-hee (권영희), a widow of novelist Jeong In-taek (정인택), who was known to be the lover of Lee Sang. Park began writing 'The Gap'o Peasant War' (갑오농민전쟁) in 1977, but due to his deteriorating eyesight, his wife transcribed his dictations to complete the work.

Park Taewon passed away on July 10, 1986, and his death was briefly reported by the Chosun Ilbo on July 13, stating that he had died of illness. At that time, mentioning the names of North Korean defectors was still considered taboo. 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 literature alongside that of other North Korean writers.

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

In a related note, General Baek Seon-yeop, a hero of the Korean War, passed away on July 10, 2020, at the age of 100.