근대소설과 어문의 근대화

Early Modern Novels in Korea and the Modernization of the Language

&nbsp;&nbsp;In the late 1890s, the Korean people started to become aware of the importance of the Korean language. The awareness of the Korean representation formed the need for the national communication system to make Korea civilized. To have the unique writing system for the nation is the most important factor for an independent country and civilization. Early modern novels were written in Korean. Due to the national crisis, the standardization and distribution of standard Korean was considered to be a very important issue of national importance. Early modern novels kept Hangul (Korean alphabets) as a national writing system even though Japanese was used as the official language.<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;Early modern novels were closely related to resurgence and reconsideration of Hangul. Hangul was used to represent words and sentences in early modern novels. In addition, Hangul had deep psychological meaning. Through Hangul, early modern novels created a modern medium. Shin Chae-ho, Lee Hae-jo, Lee Gwang-su, Kim Dong-in, Yeom Sang-seop, and Lee Tae-jun were early modern writers who contributed to the standardization and national resurgence of Hangul.<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;The Korean people as an ethnic group can lay claim of the creative modernization of language through novels. Generally the early modernization of a country is attributable to one ethnic group. The Korean people wanted to confirm that they were part of one community. The language not only formed the cultural identity but also formed the absolute origin for a nation. Hangul is a historical heritage which early Korean people depended on for national survival. The use of Hangul and early modern novels made vital creative changes in the form of an early modern representation system. There is a complementary relationship between early modern novels and Hangul.