Book Description

The years 1945?1950 were turbulent times in Korea. Proponents of two very different ideologies were struggling for control of the country, and many innocent people were killed in the struggle. One of the most tragic and, until now, largely unknown events during this period occurred on Jeju Island in 1948. On April 3 of that year, a communist uprising that enjoyed significant support within the local communities was brutally suppressed by the police and military forces of the Korean government, with guidance from the American military. It is estimated that at least 30,000 people, many of them innocent civilians, were killed in the brutal massacre ordered by President Syngman Rhee. And yet very few people, either within or outside of Korea, have a clear understanding of the enormity of this event, for an eerie silence has surrounded it for the last 50 years. Islanders who survived the event have remained silent about it largely out of fear of how they might be implicated in it, or associated with the communist forces in Korea, if it were openly discussed. This is the story of ?The Jeju Massacre,? a story that needs to be told.The short stories by Hyun Kil-Un brought together in this collection are all set on Jeju Island in and around the time of the Jeju Massacre. Each story offers its own unique perspective on the events surrounding the massacre, and the connections between the stories provide readers with a deep, multi-faceted understanding of the incident. This fictional exploration of the Jeju Massacre dramatically illustrates how innocent people are the victims of ideologies, how truth can be concealed on such a large scale, and how the revelation of truth can be so subversive in society.This is the first English-language translation of this collection of stories by Hyun-Kil-Un. The stories assembled here are readily accessible to all readers of the English-language, but will be especially relevant to those with an interest in Korean literature, Korean history, Japanese colonialism, the communist movement, and Korean-American relations.CONTENTS ?The Dream of the Dragon Horse; ?Dawn?; ?Grandfather?; ?Fever?; ?The Homecoming?; ?Fire and Ashes?; ?Dead Silence?