Esperanto in Korea

Last updated

The use of Esperanto in the Korean Peninsula can be traced back to the early 20th century.

Contents

History

Early spread and Japanese oppression

The earliest record of Esperanto in the Korean peninsula is in a Japanese newspaper which says that Gojong of Korea learnt basic phrases in Esperanto in 1906. [1] The first Esperantisto is considered to be Hong Myong-hui who learned Esperanto in 1910 in China and selected his pen name as "ByeokCho" which means the "first green man (referencing the fact the color of the Esperanto movement green and proclaiming him as first Esperantist)". [2] The organized Esperanto movement in Korea is considered to have first started with the establishment of the public learning sessions held at the YMCA led by Kim Ok in 1920. The learners of Esperanto in this session founded the Korean Esperanto Association in the same year (Then known as the Joseon Esperanto Association). In the founding issue of the magazine "Peheoh (Ruins)" in 1920, Kim Ok first published a poem in Esperanto called "La ruino" and published a series on self study of the Esperanto language on the magazine "Gaebyeok" in 1922, linking his literary work with his project to spread the Esperanto movement. The first reading book in Esperanto was published in 1923 by Sin Bong Jo, and a serialized lesson on Esperanto and a fixed article just for Esperanto was published in the Korean newspaper Dong-a Ilbo in 1924. Kim Ok also had significant contributions in the translations of contemporary Korean literature at the times like the "Potato" of Kim Dong In and published many theses in Esperanto. In 1937, a magazine written fully in Esperanto called the "Korean Esperantisto" was founded by Hong hyong hui, but soon became defunct due to the decision of the Japanese authorities to oppress the publication.

History of Esperanto in South Korea

In 1947, Seok Joo-myung, a Korean academic who studies butterflies, published many theses about butterflies in Esperanto and an international textbook of Esperanto. From the 1950s after the Korean War to the 1960s, the Esperanto movement in South Korea was scattered in Busan Seoul and Daegu, until the movements united as part of the Korean Esperanto Association in Seoul in 1975, which ensured the spread of the Esperanto language in different universities. A promotional magazine "La Espero El KoreUio" was founded by Han Moo-hyup in 1976, and continued its publication until 1994, providing many translations of Korean literature. The Korean Esperanto dictionaries and Esperanto-Korean dictionaries were separately published in 1969 and 1982. In 1985, Esperanto became an official subject in Dankook University. [3]

History of Esperanto in North Korea

Esperanto in North Korea can be traced back to lot of Korean communists and anarchists who learned the Esperanto language during their independence movements. In 1925, Esperanto was influential in the decision of the acronyms of the Korean Proletariat Artist Federation which based its acronym KAPF on the Esperanto name "Korea Artista Proleta Federatio". [4] Pak Hon-yong, who led the Workers' Party of South Korea, wrote works in Esperanto. [2] The Esperanto movement in North Korea experienced a decline after Pak was purged as a result of his mistakes during the Korean War, but the Korean Esperanto Association in North Korea was founded in 1959. [5] [6] The Korean Esperanto Dictionary was published in North Korea in 1964, [7] however current usage of Esperanto in North Korea is limited. In July 1989, delegates of the World Esperanto Youth Organization (TEJO) visited North Korea for the 13th World Festival of Youth and Students in Pyongyang, but they are unable to find evidence of the existence of Esperanto speakers in North Korea. [8]

Current status

South Korea still hosts a lot of educational institutions that have an Esperanto club. [9]

Related Research Articles

The Korea Times (Korean: 코리아타임스) is a daily English-language newspaper in South Korea. It is a sister paper of the Hankook Ilbo, a major Korean language daily; both are owned by Dongwha Enterprise, a wood-based manufacturer. It is the oldest active daily English-language newspaper in South Korea. Since the late 1950s, it had been published by the Hankook Ilbo Media Group, but following an embezzlement scandal in 2013–2014 it was sold to Dongwha Group, which also acquired Hankook Ilbo. The president-publisher of The Korea Times is Oh Young-jin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sennacieca Asocio Tutmonda</span>

Sennacieca Asocio Tutmonda is an independent worldwide cultural Esperanto association of a general left-wing orientation. Its headquarters are in Paris. According to Jacques Schram, chairman of the Executive Committee, the membership totalled 881 in 2003. In 2006 SAT had 724 members. In 2015-2016 there were 525.

<i>The Dong-A Ilbo</i> South Korean daily newspaper

The Dong-A Ilbo is a daily Korean-language newspaper published in South Korea. It is considered a newspaper of record in the country, and was founded in 1920. The paper has been a significant presence in Korean society and history, especially during the 1910–1945 Japanese colonial period, when it championed the Korean independence movement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pak Mok-wol</span> Korean poet and academic (1916–1978)

Pak Mog-wol was an influential Korean poet and academic.

<i>JoongAng Ilbo</i> South Korean daily newspaper

The JoongAng, formally known as JoongAng Ilbo, is a South Korean daily newspaper published in Seoul, South Korea. It is one of the three biggest newspapers in South Korea, and a newspaper of record for South Korea. The paper also publishes an English edition, Korea JoongAng Daily, in alliance with the International New York Times. It is often regarded as the holding company of JoongAng Group chaebol as it is owner of various affiliates, such as the broadcast station and drama producing company JTBC, and movie theatres chain Megabox.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seoul National Cemetery</span> National cemetery in South Korea

The Seoul National Cemetery (Korean: 국립서울현충원) is located in Dongjak-dong, Dongjak District, Seoul, South Korea. The cemetery is reserved for Korean veterans, including those who died in the Korean independence movement, Korean War, and Vietnam War. Four South Korean presidents are buried in the cemetery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Timeline of Korean history</span>

This is a timeline of Korean history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wangjaesan Light Music Band</span> North Korean popular music group

The Wangjaesan Light Music Band is a light music (kyŏngŭmak) group in North Korea. It is one of two popular music groups that were established by North Korea in the 1980s, both named after places where Kim Il Sung fought the Japanese in 1930s. It takes its name from Mount Wangjae in Onsong-gun, North Hamgyong Province, on the border with China, where Kim Il Sung is said to have held a meeting for anti-Japanese activities in 1933.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seomyeon station</span> Station of the Busan Metro in Busan, South Korea

Seomyeon Station is a station on the Busan Metro Line 1 and Line 2 located in Bujeon-dong, Busanjin District, Busan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hur Aram</span> South Korean writer

Aram Hur is a South Korean teacher, practicing humanist, educator, publisher, lecturer, and social entrepreneur.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kim Seong-su</span> 1951–1952 Vice President of South Korea

Kim Seong-su, nicknamed Inchon, was a Korean educator, independence activist, journalist, entrepreneur, politician, and calligrapher. He served as the second Vice President of South Korea from 1951 to 1952. Kim Seong-su founded Korea University and The Dong-a Ilbo. He graduated from Waseda University in Tokyo, Japan, majoring in Political Science and Economics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Song Jin-woo (journalist)</span> Korean independence activist (1899–1945)

Song Jin-woo was a Korean independence activist, journalist, and politician. His art name was Goha. He was the 3rd, 6th and 8th CEO of the Dong-a Ilbo and the founding leader of the Korea Democratic Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oriental Development Company</span> 1908–1945 Japanese company in Korea

The Oriental Development Company was a colonial company established by the Empire of Japan in 1908. The company was headquartered first in Seoul, and later in Tokyo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Socialist Women's Union of Korea</span> North Korean mass organization

The Socialist Women's Union of Korea is a mass organization for women in North Korea. Founded in 1945 as the North Korea Democratic Women's League, it is the oldest and one of the most important mass organizations in the country. The Union has committees on every level of administrative divisions of North Korea, from ri (village) all the way up to provinces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outline of Esperanto</span> Overview of and topical guide to Esperanto

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Esperanto:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yi Sung-yop</span> Minister of Justice

Yi Sung-yop was a communist activist during the Japanese occupation of Korea and a politician during the early years of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ho Hon</span> Korean politician (1885–1951)

Ho Hon was a Korean independence activist in Japanese controlled Korea and politician in the early years of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. As a lawyer, he defended independence activists along with Lee In and Kim Byong-ro. In September 1948, following the official proclamation on the establishment of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in the northern part of the Korean peninsula, he was elected a delegate to the first convocation of the Supreme People's Assembly, the unicameral parliament of North Korea. He also served as the President of Kim Il Sung University. While working as a reunification activist, he drowned in the Chongchon River in August 1951. He was also the father of Ho Jong-suk, a female activist and a politician in North Korea.

Kim Yong-jun, pen name Geunwon, was a Korean artist, art critic, and art historian. He is known for writing Geunwon supil and Joseon misul daeyo and providing theoretical frameworks to modern Korean art and art history.

References

  1. ↑ "[이 주일의 역사] 에스페란토 창시 자멘호프 출생(1859.12.15)". Busan Ilbo .
  2. 1 2 "[이희용의 글로벌시대] 바벨탑에 도전한 자멘호프 사망 100년". Yonhap News Agency .
  3. ↑ "에스페란토". Encyclopedia of Korean Culture .
  4. ↑ "평화어한글". Kyunghyang Shinmun .
  5. ↑ "El Popola Ĉinio", March 1959 edition, p.103
  6. ↑ 이종영 (15 December 2015). 한국에스페란토운동 80년사. Korean esperanto assiciation. p. 78. ISBN   9788987281452.
  7. ↑ "Nova vortaro esperanto-korea". ci.nii.ac.jp.
  8. ↑ Esperanto en Nord-Koreio
  9. ↑ "에스페란토 운동". busan.grandculture.net.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.