Pak Kyongni

Pak Kyongni was a South Korean novelist best known for her epic saga Toji. One of Korea's most revered writers, Pak's work has been adapted into textbooks, television dramas, and films, and several organizations are dedicated to preserving her legacy.

Pak Kyongni was born in Tōei, Keishōnan-dō, Korea (now Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea). Her early life was marked by familial strife, as her parents' strained marriage deeply affected her.

Pak's father left shortly after her birth, leaving her mother to raise her alone. This challenging upbringing fostered Pak's retreat into an imaginary world of books, laying the foundation for her literary career.

In 1946, Kyongni graduated from Jinju Girls' High School and married Gim Hangdo, a clerk at the Office of Monopoly. Her husband was later accused of being a communist, disappearing during the Korean War, and eventually dying in Seodaemun Prison. The same year, she tragically lost her three-year-old son. As a widow, she supported her daughter and mother alone.

Pak began her professional writing career in 1955 with the novel Gyesan (Calculations), following a recommendation from novelist and poet Kim Tong-ni. Her hardships heavily influenced her early works, with themes reflecting her struggles. She said, "If I had been happy, I would not have begun writing." Her novels often featured women facing adversities similar to her own.

The Age of Doubt is a collection of seven stories that offer a raw and poignant look at life in post-Civil War Korea. These stories, including her debut, introduce characters who would later appear in Toji.

Toji, or The Land, is Pak's most famous novel, spanning 20 volumes and taking 25 years to complete. Serialized beginning in 1969, Toji is set against the backdrop of Korea's tumultuous history from the late 19th century through Japanese colonial rule. It follows the lives of characters like Kim Gilsang and Choi Seohee, who strive to maintain their dignity amid adversity.

The novel's depiction of Korea's modern history through rich character portrayals and folk language has cemented its status as a cornerstone of Korean literature. It has been adapted into a TV series, a movie, and an opera and translated into several languages.

Pak's later works include The Daughters of Pharmacist Kim (1962), where she emphasizes overcoming difficulties, and The Market and Warfield (1965).

Despite her battles with health issues, including breast and lung cancer, Pak's literary output remained prolific. She established the Toji Cultural Center in Wonju in 1999 to support new writers and served as the chairperson of the Toji Cultural Foundation.

Pak Kyongni passed away on May 5, 2008, at the age of 81. She was posthumously awarded South Korea's top cultural medal.