Final rewrite and commentary.

A lucky day

 

 

By Jusang Kang

Since 1910, Korea has been under the Japanese occupation and many Koreans have been deprived of their human rights. Japan, for Koreans, was a terrible presence that forces parents, children, and friends into a corner. It was something that took away the will to live from everyone. I, too, thought Japan as a horrible existence for my life. This is because Japan snatched away everything that was dear and precious to me since I was young.

I still don’t embrace or integrate to the Japanese way of life as a resistance to Japanese imperialism. In a time where all Koreans are forced to change their names to a replacement form in the Japanese language, I have personally brought myself onto rejecting this treasonous trend. Lately, I have heard the news that Japanese police are forcing Korean students with their brutal methodologies to undertake learning the Japanese language. Furthermore with constant intimidation and force, it has become only a matter of time before these students are forced to ingest and showcase a non-existent Japanese heritage. If the students reject the changing of their name, they are deprived of their education.

“What a crazy world we live in…” I mumbled.

Luckily, I still could earn a living for my family by managing a small store in Dongdaemun market. However it is true that at any time, I may have to stop managing this store. This is because Japan is taking everything away. Potatoes, rice, barley…there is nothing left. Even the most fundamental necessities are taken away from us. Pots, pans, and metal spoons used for cooking. They even managed to scrape away the little scrap metal and iron we have left for the excuse of creating weapons and machinery. Life has become a living hell in which we cannot escape from.

I remember that day. I felt a wind of trouble going around the market place that morning. I found Mr. Kay next to my store and decided to ask what was going on. I was curious as to why the whole market had been aroused. The reality took me by surprise. The Japanese police had started extort all goods from all Dongdaemun market merchants. This was under the ridiculous guise that we had no ‘trading permit’ to sell merchandise in the marketplace from the beginning.

As this was the first time I had heard this terminology, I asked Mr. Kay about the meaning and the consequence that this phrase had in place for us.

“Are you stupid? Or do you really not know how the world is run at a time like this?” He said anger in high dudgeon.

Mr. Kay entered back into his store with a sigh. My anger for Japan grew. Why did they invade our fatherland? Why did they persecute us Koreans? No one could explain the exact reasons. Our only unified understanding was that we were not Japanese; this was the sole reason why they drove us out.

Suddenly, people ran around busily and I could hear various screams from people all around me.

“Oh God... Please do not take it from me…”

“Leave me alone! Don’t touch me!”

I was so scared about the situation. At that moment, I intuitively recognized that the Japanese police had raided the marketplace.

My heart pounded with fear. I was so sure that something big was happening outside of my place, and that the merchants outside were subjected to the military force of the police. At the moment, a thought flashed through my mind.

My wife… My son…

I urgently stabbed my lifesavings inside my underwear with my unsteady hand. I had to live. I had no choice but to abandon my priceless store. Avoiding the police, I ran away without looking back. I was so upset with my tragic figure.

Giving a lot of thought to the sudden situation, I arrived home. Looking at my thatched one room house, I again reaffirmed in my head how it was too small for a family of three to vacate.

“(*Cough*) (*Cough*) How was the store today, honey?” my wife weakly asked.

“Yes… yes. It’s great! How are you feeling today, darling?” I distantly muttered.

“Same as usual… what I would do for some beef soup now… I can’t remember a time I had beef soup since I was pregnant…. Today, I feel that I can die without any regrets if I can enjoy some soup sweet heart…” my wife stated.

“Phew… the soup… Ok, darling. I promise when I make a lot of money in the future, the first thing I will do is treat you with some beef soup. Hang in there.” I said with a heavy heart.

I remember the olden days when it was a commodity to eat beef soup. This was even for people living in the rural countryside. Now I realized that this wasn’t the case anymore. Now it was something that a normal person could consume maybe once a year and very difficult to obtain.

“Oh… my darling…you know I’m only fooling with you right? Don’t feel any pressure from my words.” she continued on.

Now I knew that I couldn’t tell my sweetheart about the Japanese raid, and how the store was significantly crippled as a result. I was sure that if I explained the situation to her she would have said:

“Oh… God… Don’t worry dear! I will go to the Japanese factories to work as soon as possible!”

However, I wanted to shield her from her innocence as she was not familiar with the harsh realities of life. It was common knowledge that women who take up employment under Japanese factories would be defiled sexually.

“Yes, my honey. Don’t worry about me! Only worry about taking care of our baby.” I said.

I felt my heart being ripped out and shred to pieces. I knew I could not complain about the injustice, but I really couldn’t bring her to be disappointed with the unfair situation. I just could not bring myself onto say anything to her. I quickly swallowed my overwhelming emotions.

That night, I could only think about what I should do when the sun rose the next morning, and it was impossible to fall asleep in my current state.

“Darling? Don’t you need to sleep now to work at the store tomorrow?” my wife asked.

“Ah… yes, yes! I should sleep now… um… I guess I’ll just have to look at your lovely face until I can fall asleep!” I said.

Seeing my love’s face, I felt somehow cheerful and that I could do anything for my family. Then something brilliant flashed through my mind. It was the rickshaw that I had picked up accidentally from the streets of Dongdaemun. I thought to myself that somehow, this could be a way for me to support my family.

“Yes! I know the ‘ins and outs’ of our neighborhood… I can make a living with this idea!” I muttered to myself.

Nevertheless, I couldn’t fall into a deep slumber easily. Finally, I fell asleep only at daybreak.

Early next morning, I yet again was ready to leave home with an empty stomach. I couldn’t deny that I overslept, but the truth of the matter was that I did not have the money for breakfast. It almost became a daily habit of sort. Immediately, I began to wash the rickshaw that was in the corner of my house.

“(*Cough!*) (*Cough!*) Darling, why are you washing the rickshaw?” my wife asked.

“Ah…It’s just… the business hasn’t been doing too well recently. So I need the rickshaw to hopefully increase the revenue. I mean… the only difference is that I will now move around the marketplace to sell my goods by using the rickshaw.” I said.

I had just told her a big lie. Guiltiness began to wrap around my whole body.

“My poor love… I can see you are suffering many hardships. If my state improves, I will help out with the business as best as I can.” my wife muttered.

“No, you don’t need to worry! Please just think about your health! I’m sorry that I can’t buy medicine for you right now… I will see you again in the afternoon.” I weakly said.

“Honey, don’t worry about me and our baby. I will be alright!” my darling said with a brave face.

My step was now heaviest than it’s ever been. I focused on pulling the rickshaw, giving a false sense of lightness in front my family. There were many people like me, a simple rickshaw man, and a boot polisher all just trying to make a living.

“Ah… they are in the same shoes as me… dammit Japan… damn Japanese! Why can’t the Japanese just leave us alone…? I just want things to be the same as it used to be!” I angrily mumbled.

I could not comprehend how long I had spent time waiting for my first customer in the dingy corner of Dongdaemun. At that moment, my first customer came to me…

“Hi, where to?” I asked.

“Um… please take me to the front of Myung-Dong church.” a female customer answered.

The two dressed up with clothes that clearly looked expensive. I could also see that they were cosmeticized nicely as well.

“Ichiko! My older brother just came back to Korea! Go to meet him now!” one of the two said.

“Oh… Haruka! I really want to meet your brother! I heard that your brother had just completed his studies in Japan!” another one said.

I was so sure that in the appearance and the way of speaking, the two were absolutely Koreans. However after hearing that brief but very informative conversation between them, I had no doubt that they were the posterities of a pro-Japanese group!

I had heard that the Pro-Japanese crowds were willing to sell their Korean identities away to Japan the security of their life. In my eyes they were worse than the brutes!

Inside my heart I strongly desired collapsing my rickshaw to the ground, and then spitting on their faces. However in reality, I could not put my thoughts into practice. I had no idea how I had deteriorated this this level of pathetic.

“We have arrived, madams! 30 cents, please” I said.

“Oh! I have only 50 cents. Just keep the change.” one of them said.

These were my first customers. The rickshaw that I had never pulled in all my life felt my so heavy beyond comprehension.

“Goddam Japan…Damn them all!” I mumbled

The time from then on flew so quickly.

Already it became exactly one month since I had started pulling a rickshaw. I started to see that there were more rickshaw men on the streets of Dongdaemun streets than before I started this job. Because of the increasing numbers of rickshaw men, it was quite often that my daily earnings were less than a dollar. Sometimes even a cent.

A few days ago, I passed my old store whilst carrying a guest. The store just stood alone in its hollow empty shell. I had lost everything, but my guests always were full of life and living a life of luxury.

What a sorrowful reality. Unconsciously, I was feeling weepy.

As more time went by, more of the Korean people’s living began plunging into the harsh relentless ground. Many people began to abandon their Korean identity and obtain a Japanese identity for their convenience.

Yes, I could understand the bad situation because I, too, was leaning toward that direction because of my fragile wife and poor baby. This was all there in the bottom of my heart…

My wife began to increasingly vomit blood. My baby began to cry more and more for the mother’s breast. Of course it was common for my family to have only one meal a day. Because of this reason, it was getting more difficult to feed her baby. I could feel my family’s deteriorating in front of my eyes. However, I took a firm stand because of the terrible event that had plagued my hometown.

One day, Japanese police men began to make their appearance in my hometown. They took all the iron, rice, and potato from the village people. There was nothing left. My village people were financially at their wits end, so Hosun, the head of my village, and, Mingyo, the son of that head, introduced the people to Japanese factories. Consequently, many of the people began to leave the hometown to work in Japan.

Objectively speaking, everything looked like it was going smoothly. Most people who went to Japan were young girls and girls of a similar age to me. However, everything wasn’t what it seemed and out of order. Then everything came out into the open and everyone found out that all girls who went to Japan were forced into prostitution. All the sent girls’ parents filled the village with their crying because the devoted girls a promise. They promised that they will make a lot of money and return back home soon. The girls left who didn’t go to Japan began to hide in their own houses without making the slightest sound. Nevertheless, it was only a matter of time before Mingyo and Japanese police found these girls and hauled them out of the country. If anybody resisted the hauling process, the police men stabbed and killed them without a hint of pity.

Such horrible events often spread out before my eyes. As more time went by, I could strong feel myself increasingly abominate Japan and the Japanese people…

One morning, when I woke up, it was partially cloud. By the time I had left home, it was drizzling outside.

My wife strongly held my hand just before I planned to leave.

“Darling, please spend time with me today… do not go out…” my wife said.

“Honey… You know that I have to make money…only then you can eat breakfast and medicine.” I answered.

“Just… just don’t go… please…” she said.

“Oh… darling… I said I have to go!” I had raised my voice.

I shouted out to her involuntarily, and shook her hand off. After that, I pulled the rickshaw and left home.

Just as soon as I had left my home, a customer called out to me.

“Hey, there! Come here!” one guy called out.

“Yes, sir! Where to?” I answered.

“Dongdaemun intersection please.” he said.

The drizzle began to change into heavy rain. Somehow, maybe because of the heavy rain, I had a lot of customers today. All people seemed to use my rickshaw. Since I pulled the rickshaw, I had never made so much money in a day.

When I managed the small store, it was difficult to make even five or six dollars. I couldn’t believe this situation. I had made about 10 dollars just in the morning. Today was a lucky day. I began to load and unload people as quick as possible without a break. When I checked the time it was three in the afternoon. I felt tired. I felt it was either because I came out early in the morning, or because I had pulled the rickshaw continuously all day. Suddenly, I recalled my wife who held my hand in the morning. When I thought I had enough money for one day of living, someone called out to me.

“Hey! Please pick me up!” one man yelled out.

As I thought this would be my last customer for today, I turned my steps towards him.

“Yes, I am coming!” I said.

“Go to Japanese government office.” he said.

For a while, I gazed him. He wore shiny shoes and nice a suit. I stared at him with an empty blank stare.

“Hey, what are you doing? Just go.” he said.

“Yes… sir, yes.” I answered.

Somehow, I was boiling and dying to beat him up, but I lowered my head and habitually started running. He was Mingyo who had turned my village and its people to the Japanese. I nearly involuntarily grabbed him by the collar, but I didn’t do anything. A girl who looked Japanese sat down beside him.

When they started speaking in Japanese, I listened to their communication carefully.

Actually, I could understand Japanese a little. This was because most people used Japanese everywhere, so I acquired the language in my mind unconsciously. Apparently, she was the daughter of a high-ranking official in Japanese government. Her name was Moe. She said if her father wins the Pacific war, Japan will advance into the huge continents because Korean soil is fertile, and an easy point of contact to China. Also, she said Korea held things that were not obtainable in Japan. Continuing the conversation with Mingyo, she said to him that she was really happy to meet people like him, and that he contributed significantly to the advancement of Japan. Additionally, she said that her father promised her to give him a good job as a public official. When she talked to him, I felt his behavior becoming more and more fucking ridiculous.

“Arigato Gozaimasu!” he said.

He seemed to follow and do whatever she had told him to do.

“Koreans will only be a subject to the Japanese people. Now, they are very angry with Japan, but eventually, Koreans will feel gratitude for being a Japanese citizen.” she said.

After hearing the enraging conversation I stopped my steps. It was impossible to make any further steps with my trembling hands and feet. Hearing such humiliating words and saying that the Korean people should be thankful… and the fact that through all their tears and pain…that I am serving these so called ‘customers’ in this pathetic self…all for what? To make a few measly bucks? Such mixed thoughts raced frantically around my head. A rage I had never felt before covered all over my body. I felt like I was going to vomit.

“Hey, what’s wrong with you?” he said.

Kim Mingyo gently came up behind me. He made me come to my senses.

“Oh dear, you look so tired! Hey, Mr. Korean, cheer up! You know what? I’ll give you three times your usual fee!”

“Hey! Listen to what she told said! We will pay three times your usual fee so just cheer up!” he said.

All I could think at that moment was that with today’s fee I could afford medicine for my wife. I really felt a strong hatred and disgust for myself. I could not help it. All Koreans like me had no choice but to act as I did.

I pulled the rickshaw again, and I arrived at the Japanese government office. This godforsaken dirty day as a rickshaw driver had finally finished. I was still so upset and exhausted.

All of a sudden, my wife’s image flashed by past in my mind.

I urgently pulled the rickshaw and went to a pharmacy. Finally, I got hold of the medicine my wife had so desperately needed. Actually, I did not know what kind of illness she had, but I just guessed that since she had always coughed, I just simply thought that cold medicine will work. Also, I was able to bring back the beef soup that she had always wanted. I put the two precious things into my rickshaw just in case it rained again and ran home.

I got to my home, and I called my wife out.

“Darling! Today was such a lucky day! Finally, I brought the soup!” I shouted with happiness.

But my wife didn’t answer me. All I thought was that after being sick for so long, she just didn’t have the strength to greet me.

I slid open the door. It looked as though she was sleeping and my son still sucked milk at his mother’s breast. I tried to wake her with gently.

“Darling? Please wake up! Darling…? Wake up!” I suddenly yelled out.

Surprised by the commotion I had just created, my son began to cry.

However, my wife still did not budge an inch… I nuzzled up against my wife like mad and began to mumble.

“Honey… I got the soup! Please… here is the soup that you have wanted for so long! Here! Just… just have a bit of it! Darling…? I bought a cold medicine for you! You promised if you get better, you will cook delicious food for me! Please take this medicine and you can get better! Why… why are you only looking at the ceiling not me! Please! Please just look at me! Please!” I shouted out.

At that moment I began to shed more tears than I had ever before. Crying a lot, I rolled over the floor. I began to mumble.

“I bought the soup… why… why do you not eat this soup? Just tell me why…why…”

My son ‘Hope’ stopped his crying and started to again vigorously suck at empty breast of his lifeless mother…

Commentary on my rewrite

A lucky day by Jin-Geun Hyun is a short novel from a collection of short stories that deals with the colonial period of Korea from 1910 to 1945. The novel portrays a tragic family which is a reflection of all Koreans who lived during that period. I thought this novel will be a good foundation to show colonialism and post-colonialism because this novel displays the harsh realities of when Korea was under the Japanese occupation.

In the original version of the novel, only Kim’s family and Kim’s friend are the main characters. However, in my rewritten version of the story, I also inserted characters that betray their people and their fatherland.

By adding these additional characters, my rewrite portrays the differences in themes, such as the gap in lifestyle between the strong ‘Japanese’, and the weak ‘Korean’, and this helped the reader compare between the thoughts of the Korean and Japanese during the colonial period.

Additionally, I altered the point of view from the original omniscient viewpoint, to changing it to Kim’s own perspective. Consequently, my rewrite shows a more specific idea of what the main character ‘Kim’ is thinking during his times of hardship. By putting emphasis on the elements of deep thinking, my story also illustrates the concept of ‘us’, versus ‘them’. This in the story’s case could be Korea versus Japan.

Finally, because this novel actually has published only in South Korea, many foreign readers may not know Korean sentiments and Korea history. To help the readers understand, my rewrite version tried to make the most of Korean sentiments of that time through Kim’s viewpoint.