The Water Mill

 Na Do-hyang’s (1902~1927) real name is Kyung-sohn and his pen name is Bin. He was born in 1902. After graduating from Baejae Normal High School, he was admitted to Kyeongseong Medical School but dropped out and went to Tokyo, Japan, to study literature, returning in 1919 to teach at an elementary school in Andong for one year. He began his literary career in 1921, publishing “Leaving Home” (Choolhyang) in the Baejae School Newspaper (Baejae Hakbo) and later on, his short story “Memory” (Chueok) in the People’s Opinion (Shimin Gongrohn). In 1922, as a member of the literary coterie magazine The Swan (Baekjo), he published his work “The Seasons of a Young Person” (Jeolmunieui Shijeol) in its first edition.

In 1925, with the publication of his artistically mature pieces like “The Water Mill” (Mullaebanga), “Mulberry” (Bbong), and “Mute Sam-ryong” (Beongeori Samryong), he received much attention as a writer. He died on August 26, 1927. His full-length novel, “Mother” (Uhmuhni) (1939) was published posthumously. In his early years, his writings reflected an emotional and artistic world, but his later works like “The Water Mill” were much more realistic and used short story elements. He is considered to be the representative author of the Colonial Period, for he clearly depicted the dark realities of that time.