The concubine of the wife
I’ve been translating a short story at the request of a friend of mine. The friend is Young-Key Kim-Renaud, a retired professor of linguistics at George Washington University. But more importantly, she is the daughter of Han Moo-sook, a famous short story writer. Kim-Renaud is compiling an anthology of her mother’s short stories in English translation. Some of the stories have already been…
The title of the story I have been entrusted with translating is "Yi Sajong's Wife." This narrative delves into a well-known Korean folktale – its authenticity is uncertain, yet it is depicted as a genuine occurrence – focusing on one of the most celebrated gisaengs in Korean history, Hwang Jini. The tale revolves around Hwang Jini's passionate love for a renowned singer.
While the singer was out in the mountains, serenading passersby, Hwang Jini's eyes were drawn to his captivating voice. Intrigued by his enchanting melodies, she approached him and unveiled her true identity. Little did she know that this serendipitous encounter would lead to a love story that would resonate throughout Korean history.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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- The concubine of the wife koreatimes.co.kr
