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Original Works

We provide information on Korean literature titles (classical, modern and contemporary) in multiple languages.

Printed/Published Work Korean(한국어)

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About the Original Works

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Original Title
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Title Romanization
Nungil
English Title(Printed)
The snowy road
Classification

KDC구분 > literature > Korean Literature > Korean Fiction > 20th century > Short Story

Author
Yi Chong-Jun
Co-Author
-
Published Year
1984
Publisher
Hongsungsa
ISBN
-
Main Characters
Narrator, old mother, wife
Subject/Theme
Parents’ love for their children

About the Author

Writer default image
  • Yi Chong-Jun
  • Birth : 1939 ~ 2008
  • Occupation : Novelist
  • First Name : Chong-Jun
  • Family Name : Yi
  • Korean Name : 이청준
  • ISNI : 0000000453018634
  • Works : 67
Plot

The narrator, who is also the main character, lives believing that he is a self-made man, who did not receive any help from his parents. One day, he overhears his mother telling his wife about her past: about 17 or 18 years ago, after the narrator’s older brother squandered the family fortune and sold the house, the narrator returned home from K city. Then, his mother begged the owner of the house to leave behind the blanket and wardrobe in the bedroom so that the narrator could spend the night. And at dawn, his mother bid him farewell and walked back home on the snowy path all by herself. In the present day, the narrator’s mother tells the narrator’s wife that she couldn’t enter their neighborhood without reserve out of shame and embarrassment. As the narrator listens to this story, tears well up, but he closes his eyes and pretends to be asleep.

Descriptions(Languages 2)
  • English(English)
  • Korean(한국어)

This is a short story by Yi Chong-Jun, published in the inaugural issue of Munyejungang in 1977. It describes the process in which the protagonist, who believes he was unloved by his mother, realizes his misunderstanding and reconciles with her. Through the sad and rueful story of a mother who was unable to shower her child with love, this story allows the reader to confirm familial love.

1977년 <문예중앙> 창간호에 발표된 이청준의 단편소설이다. 이 작품은 어머니로부터 사랑을 받지 못 했다고 여기며 살아온 주인공이 오해를 풀고 화해를 이루는 과정을 묘사했다. 자식에게 사랑을 주지 못한 어머니의 안타까움과 한스러움을 통해 가족의 사랑을 확인한다.

Translated Books3

  • The snowy road
    English(English) Book Available
    The snowy road
    Yi Chong-jun / Yi Chong-jun / 2005 / KDC구분 > literature > Korean Literature > Korean Fiction > 20th century > Short Story
  • L'azalée blanche
    French(Français) Book Available
    L'azalée blanche
    Yi Chong-Jun et al / Yi Ch`ŏngjun / 2014 / KDC구분 > literature > Korean Literature > Korean Fiction > 20th century > Short Story
  • Schneeweg
    German(Deutsch) Book
    Schneeweg
    Yi Chong-Jun et al / Cheong-Jun Lee / 2020 / KDC구분 > literature > Korean Literature > Korean Fiction > 20th century > Short Story
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