Kim Dong-in

Kim Dong-in (; October 2, 1900 – January 5, 1951) was a Korean writer.

Biography Kim Dong-in, born on October 2, 1900, in Pyongyang, South Pyongan Province, Korean Empire, was a pioneer of realism and naturalism in Modern Korean literature. A son of a wealthy landowner, like many other young Korean intellectuals Kim took his higher education in Japan, attending the Meiji Academy in Tokyo and entering the Kawabata School of Fine Arts. Kim dropped out when he decided to pursue writing as a career. In 1919, Kim and other advocates for "art-for-art's-sake-literature," launched the influential but transitory journal Creation (Changjo) in Japan along with Joo Yohan, Jeon Yeongtaek, Choi Seungman, and Kim Hwan. In Creation Kim published his debut story, "The Sorrows of the Weak" (Yakhanjaui seulpeum). In 1925, Kim published one of his most famous works, "Potato," which was a breakthrough in Korean "realist" fiction and a further salvo in his ongoing literary war with Yi Gwangsu.

Kim lived an extravagant lifestyle (thanks to the inheritance received from his father) until 1930, at which point his finances began to fail. Kim's financial situation led him to depression and drug abuse.

Many of Kim's stories have been adapted to film. Fellow Korean author Kim Seungok wrote the screenplay and directed the first adaptation of "Potato" which was released in 1968. The story was adapted again in 1987 by director Byun Jang-ho. Other works which made it to the screen are as follows: The Young Ones (1985) directed by Ko Seong-ui, Identical Toes (1976) directed by Kim Soo-yong, Sonata Appassionato (1979) directed by Ko Young-nam, Gwanghwa Temple (1974) directed by Joo Dong-jin, and Baettaragi (1973) directed by Lee Kyu-hwan.

Works in English Sweet Potato: Collected Short Stories by Kim Tongin (2017), 14 stories translated by Grace Jung, published by Honford Star "Potato" in Modern Korean Fiction: An Anthology "The Rock" in Meetings and Farewells: Modern Korean Stories The Post Horse in Meetings and Farewells: Modern Korean Stories "The Red Hills: A Doctor's Diary" in Modern Korean Short Stories "The Seaman's Chant" in The Rainy Spell and Other Korean Stories "The Photograph and the Letter" in A Ready-Made Life: Early Masters of Modern Korean Fiction "Tale of a Mad Painter" (1935) 광화사, translated by Stephen Epstein (1921)

Works in Korean (Partial)

Historical Novels: The Young Ones (Jeolmeun geudeul, 1930–1931) Spring at Unhyeongung Palace (Unhyeongungui bom, 1933) The Decline of the Dynasty (Wangbuui nakjo, 1935) Great Prince Suyang (Dae Suyang, 1941)

Collections: Life (Moksum, 1924) Potato (Gamja 1935) Short Stories of Kim Dong-in (Kim Dong-in danpyeonjip, 1939) The Sunset of the Palace (1941) Roaming (Baehoe, 1941) Identical Toes (Balgaragi dalmatda, 1948) A Weak Man's Sorrow (Yakhan ja-ui seulpeum 1919) Baettaragi (1921) Flogging (Taehyeong 1922) The Wedding (Gyeolhonsik 1931) Traitor (Banyeokja 1946) Popularity of a Ruined Nation (Manggukin-gi 1947)