Introduction

A Pleasant Journey through

an Old Song and Story Written in Hangeul

Just like today, there were bestsellers during the Joseon Dynasty.

They were called banggakbon (commercially published editions

of books) that were engraved and printed for sale. Much like in

modern publishing, great labor and expense were required to

engrave and print woodblocks to produce a book. Since such

commercial editions of books were published for sale and profit,

it can be assumed that these books were popular items at the

time. Books in Hangeul (the Korean script) appear to have been

particularly popular and widely loved.

The two books being introduced at this exhibition are both

commercial editions printed in Hangeul. They can be considered

something like bestsellers from the Joseon Dynasty. They are

Hanyangga (Song of Hanyang), which is lyric verse describing the

scenery of Seoul, and Chunhyangjeon (The Tale of Chunhyang), a

novel telling the love story of Yi Mongryong and Chunhyang that

was widely known in its pansori (epic chant) version.

The exhibition space is designed to help visitors to feel like they

are walking through the sites in Hanyang depicted in Hanyangga

to give them a realistic experience of the area as it was in the

late Joseon period. Some of the words used in Hanyangga and

Chunhyangjeon to reflect everyday life in Seoul and the culture of

the city are highlighted in the exhibition. Moreover, it explores the

publishing industry in Jeonju through several books produced at

the Jeolla-do Provincial Office, Jeonju-bu Administrative District

Office, and private bookstores. It also presents a variety of aspects

of Chunhyangjeon, a classic Hangeul novel and a prime example of

the editions of books published in Jeonju.