A Lucky Day: Tales of Misfortune by Hyun Jin-geon

Hyun Jin-geon stands as a master of the modern Korean short story, celebrated for his clarity of prose, sharp social realism, and profound empathy for the marginalized. This collection brings together some of his most famous and enduring works, each a powerful meditation on the human condition during the colonial era.

A Lucky Day (1924)

A Lucky Day (Un-su joeun nal) is arguably Hyun Jin-geon's most famous work. It tells the story of Kim Cheom-ji, a rickshaw puller in Seoul who experiences a sudden and unexpected windfall. However, as the day unfolds, a sense of mounting dread begins to overshadow his "luck," leading to a devastating and ironic conclusion that exposes the harsh realities of life for the urban poor.

A Poor Man's Wife (1920)

In A Poor Man's Wife (Bin-cheo), Hyun Jin-geon turns his attention to the domestic sphere. The story explores the delicate balance of love and poverty in a young couple's marriage, as the husband's struggles as an intellectual clash with the wife's tireless devotion and quiet sacrifices. It is a tender and nuanced portrayal of the resilience and vulnerability of the human heart.

B-sagam and Love Letters (1925)

B-sagam and Love Letters (B-sagam-gwa love letter) is a sharp and humorous critique of the rigid social and sexual mores of early 20th-century Korea. Through the character of B-sagam, a stern and puritanical dormitory matron who is secretly obsessed with the love letters of her students, Hyun Jin-geon exposes the hypocrisy and repressed desires that lay beneath the surface of respectable society.

Hometown (1923)

Hometown (Gohyang) is a poignant exploration of displacement and the loss of traditional Korean values. Through the eyes of a narrator returning to his childhood village, Hyun Jin-geon captures the profound transformation of the Korean countryside under colonial rule, as the familiar landmarks of his youth are replaced by the cold machinery of industrialization and exploitation. It is a powerful meditation on the meaning of home and the enduring power of memory.