Two novels set in Japanese colonial period
In the shadow of Japan's colonial rule over Korea from 1910 to 1945, two compelling literary works, "The Investigation" and "Grass" delve into the profound struggles and resilience of the Korean people.
"The Investigation" takes readers inside Fukuoka Prison, intertwining the life of beloved poet Yun Dong-ju with a gripping murder mystery that highlights the transformative power of literature, while "Grass," a powerful graphic novel, tells the harrowing story of a comfort woman forced into military sexual slavery.
These two stories illuminate the enduring human spirit amid oppression and the quest for justice and identity.
Crime mystery where poems hold clues
"The Investigation" by Lee Jung-myung
Yun Dong-ju, sometimes spelled Yoon Dong-ju, is one of Korea's most beloved poets, remembered as a conscientious intellectual for his deeply introspective verses written during Japan's colonial rule of Korea.
He died in February 1945 in prison at the age of 27, but his brief life has inspired numerous books, dramas and films — including the award-winning biographical drama “Dongju: The Portrait of a Poet” (2016), directed by Lee Joon-ik and starring Kang Ha-neul and Park Jeong-min.
“The Investigation,” a historical novel inspired by Yun, takes readers inside Fukuoka Prison in 1944 as World War II nears its end. The crime mystery intertwines historical facts with the author’s imagination to offer fleeting glimpses of hope and reveal how literature can transform a person.
Within the prison walls, a man is found brutally murdered. The victim, Dozan Sugiyama, was a feared and despised prison guard known as the Butcher. The only clue is a cryptic poem found in his pocket.
Yuichi Watanabe, a young conscripted guard with a love for literature, is assigned to investigate the murder. His search leads him to Yun Dong-ju, a young prisoner serving a two-year sentence for writing subversive poetry against Imperial Japan.
As Watanabe questions Yun and unravels Sugiyama's final months, he begins to uncover the dark and violent truth of the prison, where few inmates survive.
Lee employed Yun’s poems as clues in the murder mystery, making each verse a crucial piece of the puzzle.
The act of reading and the act of writing are both very important to the characters in the book. In an interview with Pan Macmillan, the book's English publisher, Lee said he believes that books and reading can change a person.
"The Investigation" is available in English, French, Spanish, Italian, Chinese and Japanese. It was nominated for the UK's Independent Foreign Fiction Prize in 2015 and selected among the final six books for Italy's Premio Bancarella literary award.
Antiwar graphic novel honoring stories of survivors
"Grass" by Keum Suk Gendry-Kim
On Feb. 16, Gil Won-ok, a former Japanese military sex slave who campaigned to raise awareness of the World War II atrocity, passed away at the age of 97. She was one of the last surviving victims of Japan's wartime sexual slavery or "comfort women," a euphemism for the sex slaves. With Gil's death, the number of surviving victims is reduced to seven. Of the 240 women registered with the government, 233 have died.
One of the seven surviving victims is Lee Ok-sun from Busan, now 98, whose testimony is retold in Keum Suk Gendry-Kim's award-winning "Grass." The black-and-white graphic novel received the prestigious Harvey Award in 2020, becoming the first Korean work to do so, and three Eisner Award nominations.
Gendry-Kim visited the House of Sharing in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, a shelter for survivors. After multiple visits, she formed a connection with Lee and began interviewing her. These interviews became an integral part of Grass, shaping the heart and structure of the novel.
Beginning in Lee’s childhood, the story shows the lead-up to the war from a child’s vulnerable perspective, detailing how one person experienced the Japanese occupation and the widespread suffering it entailed for Koreans.
The depictions of Lee's experiences are vivid and brutal; however, Gendry-Kim chose to represent scenes of violence through nuanced imagery, using traditional ink wash techniques to convey the emotional weight without directly depicting the graphic details.
"I never imagined that people with different languages would express their gratitude and shed tears. Sexual violence leaves profound scars on victims, transcending time, age, race and social class," said Gendry-Kim in the author's note to the recently revised Korean edition.
"Grass" is available in 35 countries in their respective languages, including French, Spanish and Italian.
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In this series, The Korea Herald explores literature through thematic curation, inviting you to join us on a journey of discovery. Each installment will focus on a specific theme, featuring a selection of works that deserve a place on your reading list. -- Ed.
hwangdh@heraldcorp.com
