Sim Kiwŏn’s Revolt and the Return of Im Kyŏngŏp
Journal Title: International Journal of Korean History - Year 2008, Vol 12, Issue 1
Abstract
In the spring of 2007, a novel entitled < Namhan Fortress (Namhan sansŏng)> was published. This novel is unique in that it perfectly captures the dilemma faced by Chosŏn at the time of the Second Manchu Invasion (pyŏngja horan). More to the point, Chosŏn found itself having to choose between continued adherence to its perceived moral obligations and the reality on the ground. In this regard, the main protagonists of this story are King Injo, who sought refuge within the walls of Namhan Fortress, Choe Myŏnggil, an advocate of the taking of a reconciliatory course of action, and Kim Sanghŏn, a member of the group that rejected all forms of heterodoxy. The story of the life of King Injo, who had come to the throne after having overthrown his uncle the Kwanghaegun, is without a doubt an interesting one. In the novel, King Injo is described as a tragic character who consistently agonized over the need to strike a balance between his kingdom’s moral obligations and the reality on the ground. One even feels a certain sense of sympathy for Injo who was forced to accept personal dishonor in order to save his beloved kingdom. The revealing of this side of King Injo has caused the traditional perception of this monarch to undergo certain changes.
Authors and Affiliations
Sun-ah Lee
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP26335
- DOI -
- Views 386
- Downloads 20
The Definitions of Individuality and ROK Kungmin (國民) in the Political Philosophy of the Incipient Republic of Korea
ying the ROK’s aseity. And there still remained the threat of popular practices. The South Korean people got indulged in things concerned with the individual self and were indifferent to state affairs and the ROK. In the...
Kaesŏng Uprising of 1893
With the exception of the Kaesŏng Uprising of 1893, none of the other uprisings that emerged from the opening of the three ports in 1876 until 1910 featured demands related to the landlord system. That being said, the la...
Historical Characteristics of Korea's Social Democracy
Socialism is an ideology that was formed and organized in the process of the political movement of modern western Europe. For its part, social democracy, founded in the late 19th century, carried the same meaning as s...
The Introduction of the Concept of 'Nation' into the Koran Society and the Adaptation of Its Usage
Since the beginning of the modern era, a variety of modern terms and concepts have been introduced into the Korean society through a number of media via the western world, Japan and China. In the process of adopting n...
Achievements and Future Tasks in the Field of Ancient Korean History
Great qualitative and quantitative achievements have been made in the field of ancient Korean history since liberation sixty years ago. In particular, the volume of studies in the overall field of Korean history has i...