Beautiful Sorrows

Prologue



This book was originally written as a project at school. However, we learnt that several students at GAFL have published Korean short stories translated in English a few years ago, and decided to publish another one ourselves, too. There are a few things that we particularly put our efforts to while translating.

First of all, our purpose of publishing this book is to make foreigners learn advanced Korean and Korean literature.

Second, we chose 6 short stories that best describe Korean culture and lifestyle in the 1900s, which also coincide with general lifestyle so that foreigners can understand and empathise with it without much difficulty.

Third, we tried hard to respect the author's style of writing and to keep the original text as much as we could.

Fourth, we wrote explanations of stories such as the author, cultural backgrounds,

and commentaries so as to help readers'understanding.

Fifth, copyright of all 6 stories that this book contains is now deceased, according to copyright law.

Sixth, some words or expressions which could be hard to understand in

English alone are further explained in footnote at the end of each page.

Seventh, in every novel, all words in parentheses are written by the original author.

Eighth, all Korean names follow Korean order-family name first, and then first-name.

Young and not educated enough as we are, we have put much effort and affection to it. We believe that this book is enough for foreigners to understand and study Korean literature and enough for Koreans to read and think of the beauty of Korean language itself and Korean literature

again.



2015

Kim Su Young

Contents



Prologue ‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥ 6

Written by : Kim Su Young



Words of Encouragement ‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥ 7

Written by : Professor Kim Ilgu



Theme‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥ 10

Written by : Kim Su Young



Chapter 1. The Death of Grandmother ‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥ 14

Originally written by : Hyun Jin Geon

Translated by : Lee Ji Yoon

Edited by : Kim Su Young, Lee Su Hyun, Park So Yeon, Patrick Shay, Ahn Jong Hyub



Chapter 2. The Record of Expiry‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥ 48

Originally written by : Lee Sang

Translated by : Park So Yeon

Edited by : Kim Su Young, In Su Jin, Patrick Shay, Kim Ilgu



Chapter 3. The Escape ‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥ 108

Originally written by : Choi Seo Hae

Translated by : Kim Su Young

Edited by : Lee Su Hyun, Lee Ji Yoon, Chang Young Zi, Patrick Shay, Ahn Jong Hyub



Chapter 4. A Rickshaw Man ‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥ 142

Originally written by : An Guk Seon

Translated by : Lee Su Hyun

Edited by : Kim Su Young, Chang Young Zi, Lee Ji Yoon, Kim Ilgu



Chapter 5. The Poor Wife ‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥ 184

Originally written by : Hyun Jin Geon

Translated by : Chang Young Zi

Edited by Kim Su Young, Lee Su Hyun, In Su Jin, Lee Ji Yoon, Ahn Jong Hyub



Chapter 6. Minutes of Animals ‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥ 234

Originally written by : An Guk Seon

Translated by : In Su Jin

Edited by : Lee Su Hyun, Park So Yeon, Chang Young Zi, Kim Ilgu



Epilogue ‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥ 308

김수영