Since the modern age, Pyongyang(平壤) has varied with its topology amid a process of change of a geopolitical world system such as a national country, regionalism of the East Asia, world order and others. Pyongyang wasn't fixed according to a position, ...
Since the modern age, Pyongyang(平壤) has varied with its topology amid a process of change of a geopolitical world system such as a national country, regionalism of the East Asia, world order and others. Pyongyang wasn't fixed according to a position, a viewpoint, desire and others of a subject viewing and recognizing the place between imperial Japan and colonial Joseon and became to be made as "being Pyongyang". The 'Elegant light' of Lee, Hyo-seok is centered on the space called Pyongyang that was recognized and represented in familiar ways such as an ancient city, a battlefield and a hometown of gisaengs, etc. by imperial Japanese and colonial Korean since the early modern age and was making geopolitical topology of Joseon culture at the time through voice of colonial settlers having Pyongyang Topophilia. It seems to confirm a recognition and representation system on the space that dual hierachization such as a country of colonial Joseon as well as a country of imperial Japan is duplicated, and also had a possibility to dismantle such recognition and representation system with the same grammar. The Joseon, Joseon culture and Joseon literature in the latter half period of a colony always had a critical point that doesn't converge to Japan, Japan culture and Japan literature. The narrative of the ‘Elegant light’ of Lee, Hyo-seok suggests 'constitution' and 'climate' based on the individuality and originality of Joseon culture amid a behavior of a figure having Pyongyang Topophilia, and showed desire of a colonial Joseon intellectual who tries to newly reorganize the topology of Joseon in the world and Joseon in the East Asia in a geopolitical culture viewpoint.
Buyeo was an ancient city that had been forgotten for a long time since a fall of Baekje. The image in Baekje and Buyeo, which are seen here and there until the 1920s, is the one in the declined ancient kingdom and is being automated to be indicated sentiment of remorse on one scene in the fallen history. What the modern image on a city called Buyeo started to be produced was a situation before and after 1929. Its important chance can be taken what Buyeo Ancient-family Preservation Association, which was established in 1915, was changed into a foundation in 1929. The introduction on Buyeo, which is observed in newspaper articles or travel sketches since then, is delivering intention of re-discovering Buyeo as a city equivalent to Gyeongju or Pyeongyang. Buyeo is being illuminated again as a historically ancient city of standing now against Gyeongju or Pyeongyang. As a place that makes Joseon and Japan have the extremely deep relationship beyond even the contemporary policy called 'Naeseonyunghwa內鮮融和-Japan and Joseon need to be reconciled).' it is what again makes identity of Buyeo. It is what newly casts a symbol of Buyeo through recognizing that it is difficult to be imagined except a place called Buyeo if there had been relationship something significant in history of both countries.
As the government-general announces a plan for establishing Buyeo Shindo Shrine(扶餘神宮) in March of 1939, a situation comes to be varied completely. Buyeo, which was newly born as Shindo City(神都), is re-illuminated as a city that has brilliantly cultural heritage in the past, not a small town anymore where was forgotten. This urban plan, which newly makes Buyeo for intellects in the colonial times, implied the moment of being revived ancient-city Buyeo, which is recalled just wealth and prosperity in distant old days with being decayed for over 1000 years. At the same time, it also signified that the qualification of 'Shindo City(神都),' which there is just one even in the mainland Japan, is given to a regional city of Joseon.