Beautiful Sorrows

Contents

Prologue ···················································· 6
Written by : Kim Su Young

Words of Encouragement ···································· 7
Written by : Professor Kim Ilgu

Theme·················································· 10
Written by : Kim Su Young

Chapter 1. The Death of Grandmother ······················ 14
Originally written by : Hyun Jin Geon
Translated by : Lee Ji Yoon
Edited by : Kim Su Young, Lee Su Hyun, Park So Yeon, Patrick Shay, Ahn Jong Hyub

Chapter 2. The Record of Expiry···························· 48
Originally written by : Lee Sang
Translated by : Park So Yeon
Edited by : Kim Su Young, In Su Jin, Patrick Shay, Kim Ilgu

Chapter 3. The Escape ···································· 108
Originally written by : Choi Seo Hae
Translated by : Kim Su Young
Edited by : Lee Su Hyun, Lee Ji Yoon, Chang Young Zi, Patrick Shay, Ahn Jong Hyub

Chapter 4. A Rickshaw Man ······························ 142
Originally written by : An Guk Seon
Translated by : Lee Su Hyun
Edited by : Kim Su Young, Chang Young Zi, Lee Ji Yoon, Kim Ilgu

Chapter 5. The Poor Wife ································ 184
Originally written by : Hyun Jin Geon
Translated by : Chang Young Zi
Edited by Kim Su Young, Lee Su Hyun, In Su Jin, Lee Ji Yoon, Ahn Jong Hyub

Chapter 6. Minutes of Animals ···························· 234
Originally written by : An Guk Seon
Translated by : In Su Jin
Edited by : Lee Su Hyun, Park So Yeon, Chang Young Zi, Kim Ilgu

Epilogue ·············································· 308

Prologue

This book was originally written as a project at school. However, we learnt that several students at GAFL have published Korean short stories translated in English a few years ago, and decided to publish another one ourselves, too. There are a few things that we particularly put our efforts to while translating.
First of all, our purpose of publishing this book is to make foreigners learn advanced Korean and Korean literature.
Second, we chose 6 short stories that best describe Korean culture and lifestyle in the 1900s, which also coincide with general lifestyle so that foreigners can understand and empathise with it without much difficulty.
Third, we tried hard to respect the author’s style of writing and to keep the original text as much as we could.
Fourth, we wrote explanations of stories such as the author, cultural backgrounds,
and commentaries so as to help readers’understanding.
Fifth, copyright of all 6 stories that this book contains is now deceased, according to copyright law.
Sixth, some words or expressions which could be hard to understand in
English alone are further explained in footnote at the end of each page.
Seventh, in every novel, all words in parentheses are written by the original author.
Eighth, all Korean names follow Korean order-family name first, and then first-name.
Young and not educated enough as we are, we have put much effort and affection to it. We believe that this book is enough for foreigners to understand and study Korean literature and enough for Koreans to read and think of the beauty of Korean language itself and Korean literature
again.

2015
Kim Su Young