'Our country': Changing images of the foreign in Korean literature and culture

This study begins by problematizing the typical conception of Korea as a “hermit nation.” Interrogation of a variety of premodern texts reveals a long and significant record of Korean interaction with the outside world. These texts also reveal a concept of humanity based on civilization, not race.; The second chapter narrows its focus to works of prose fiction. It begins with a genealogy of the term and concept of soso˘l. From there, focus narrows to the work Hong Kiltong-cho˘n, with particular attention to the motif of travel abroad.; In the third chapter, Korea's encounter with the West is explored. This chapter begins with the earliest recorded instances of contact, including the early intellectual objections of Neo-Confucians to Catholicism. Next, it chronicles the more violent encounter during the latter half of the nineteenth century, to include the introduction of Protestant Christianity, largely from America. This coincided with military incursions and the weakening of Korean resolve. It was from this time that missionaries and Christianity gained a foothold, and that Koreans were introduced to concepts of foreignness based on ethnicity.; The effects of the encounter with the West as reflected in literature are looked at in the fourth chapter. Conservative songs reflect a pervasive anti-Western sentiment and a desire to preserve Korea and the East Asian world order. These give way to more positive verses concerning the West, particularly following the devastation of Korea and demotion of China following the Sino-Japanese War. Narrative editorials also begin to appear in the newly formed vernacular press.; The narrative editorial goes in many directions, and one is toward the development of a new narrative fiction. Hyo˘l ŭi nu, widely considered the first example of novel-length modern narrative fiction, is examined for the images it contains of Japan and the West in general, and of America in particular.; The study closes with a look at the continuing interplay of literature and history as seen through the changing images of America in Korean fiction.