ABSTRACT
Yi Kwangsu (1892–1950) was one of the pioneers of modern Korean fiction, as well as an independence activist and nationalist, although he was later accused of collaborating with the Japanese. Mujŏng (The Heartless), arguably the most famous of his works, was first published in 1917, and has gained particular interest for its advocacy of free love. As with his other three major novels, Chaesaeng (Rebirth), Hŭk (Soil), and Sarang (Love), it follows a parallel structure, telling a story both of love between a man and a woman, as well as love for one’s nation. In Mujŏng, the protagonists Hyŏng-sik and Yŏng-ch’ae a promised to each other as children, but are separated, and only meet again eight years later, when Hyŏng-sik is working as a teacher and Yŏng-ch’ae has had to sell herself as a kisaeng, although she has kept herself chaste in the hope of still being able to marry Hyŏng-sik. When she is raped by a patron, she intends to commit suicide, but on the train she encounters Pyŏng-uk, who encourages her to abandon her Confucian obligations and live as a modern woman. Meanwhile Hyŏng-sik, thinking Yŏng-ch’ae is dead, marries Sŏn-hyŏng, the daughter of a rich Elder in the Presbyterian church. They meet again on the train, as they all travel towards the port in order to go study abroad. Encountering a terrible flood which hinders their journey, they form the motivation to return after their studies to improve their country.
