김내성의 추리소설 혹은 김내성식 대중소설 -『마인』의 대중적 인기 요인 분석

Authors : Yeon Jin Jang

Pages : 315-332

Doi:10.38060/kare.691401

View : 17 | Download : 10

Publication Date : 2020-06-30

Article Type : Research

Abstract :The purpose of this article is to analyze the reasons behind the popularity of Kim Nae-sung’s mystery novel, Main(1939)'. This is Kim's first full-length novel and a mystery novel. In the 1930s, there were only a few mystery novels in Korea, mostly translations of Western novels. So, the success of Kim Nae-sung’s pioneering mystery novel Main was very unusual. However, many ‘popular literatures’ created by Kim since the 1940s have been highly popular. Kim’s popular novels were made into radio dramas, television dramas, and movies, and were much loved by the public. He has had a significant influence on Korean pop culture, and Main, which is not a ‘well-written’ literary work, requires analysis from the perspective of popular novels. Because it is difficult to rate Main as a good mystery novel. In fact, many researchers evaluate the lack of reasoning elements in Main. However, Main’s these features are related to the writer's attitude toward mystery novels. It is an ‘anomaly’ mystery novel. This ‘anomaly’ was also emphasized by Japanese mystery novel writers Edogawa Ranpo, Kim's teacher. Kim Nae-sung also has a novel's point of view that values popularity. Therefore, it is natural that this work is not a typical mystery novel. And Main's popular popularity lies in the fact that this work is an ‘anomaly’ novel. The article analyzed three main factors why Main was successful. The first is the character of detective YuBulan, the main character. YuBulan is rather logical intuition dependent and the events resolved when a too late or incorrect predictions ‘problematic’ detective. YuBulan is never good detective does. These weaknesses of Yubulan make Main a humorous novel. The humorous situations that often occur naturally because of his personality. The second is the element of melodrama and an exciting spectacle. Most of the characters in the novel are in a love triangle. And their relationship goes on in ‘the virutal city’ of Gyeongseong. Gyeongseong in the novel is very different from what it looks like in real life. Unlike reality, the city in the novel is too splendid and dynamic. However, the public is familiar with Gyeongseong in the novel through foreign movie. To the public, Gyeongseong in the novel is an unfamiliar and familiar city. And these factors give the public an interesting experience, like watching a foreign movie. The third is the hidden voice in the work. This voice acts like a silent-film narrator. This voice conveys the emotions and background of the character to the reader vividly. And this voice goes further here, communicating with the reader and giving a three-dimensional account of the narrative and the proceedings. Kim has an unerring talent as a writer of popular literature, and Main has all the ingredients of the popular novel. The main character, the detective YuBulan, is comically inept, and his ordinariness appeals to the ordinary reader. The setting has all the elements of melodrama and excitement in the splendid and dynamic city of Gyeongseong, where most of the characters are in a love triangle. The narrative voice gets across the emotions of the characters vividly in a three-dimensional account, which is almost cinematic. Kim mixes elements of the humorous novel, the romance novel, and of the cinema in Main. These factors define the novel as a transformative mystery novel of the 1930s in Korea.
Keywords : Kim Nae-sung, Main, popular literature, popular fiction, mystery novels, detective stories, humorous stories, romance novels, Gyeongseong