Rain Shower
Encyclopedia
"Rain Shower", also "Shower" or "Sonagi," (소나기) is a Korean short story written by Korean writer Hwang Sun-won
in 1959. "Rain Shower" is a translation of the Korean title “Sonagi.” A sonagi is a brief but a heavy rain shower that starts suddenly, usually on a hot afternoon. In Hwang’s story, the rain shower symbolizes the short but heart-rending love between the boy and the girl. The story begins with the boy encountering the girl playing by the stream on his way back home.
Although many of Hwang’s short stories are notable, “Rain Shower” is cited as his timeless Korean classic by Koreans. Koreans of all ages are acquainted with this story. It is famous for its poignant depiction of the Korean countryside and of innocent adolescent love. The picturesque scenes from this story stir nostalgia for many people.
“Rain Shower,” like many of Hwang’s other stories, was written while he lived as a refugee with his family during the Korean War
.
The Korean film ‘The Classic
’ replicates many scenes from Hwang’s "Rain Shower." The scene from the story where the boy and the girl avoid the rain shower together has become a favorite in many Korean romantic films (as depicted in Korean romantic comedy My Sassy Girl
in 2001).
Hwang Sun-won
Hwang Sun-wŏn was a Korean short story writer, novelist, and poet. He was born while Korea was under Japanese colonial rule in Taedong, South Pyongan, in modern-day North Korea; however, following the division of Korea he lived in the South, becoming a professor at Kyunghee University.Although he...
in 1959. "Rain Shower" is a translation of the Korean title “Sonagi.” A sonagi is a brief but a heavy rain shower that starts suddenly, usually on a hot afternoon. In Hwang’s story, the rain shower symbolizes the short but heart-rending love between the boy and the girl. The story begins with the boy encountering the girl playing by the stream on his way back home.
Although many of Hwang’s short stories are notable, “Rain Shower” is cited as his timeless Korean classic by Koreans. Koreans of all ages are acquainted with this story. It is famous for its poignant depiction of the Korean countryside and of innocent adolescent love. The picturesque scenes from this story stir nostalgia for many people.
“Rain Shower,” like many of Hwang’s other stories, was written while he lived as a refugee with his family during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
.
The Korean film ‘The Classic
The Classic
The Classic is a 2003 South Korean melodrama / romance film directed by Kwak Jae-yong.- Plot :The film tells the parallel love stories of a mother and daughter. The story of the mother is told partially in flashbacks.The movie starts in the present day...
’ replicates many scenes from Hwang’s "Rain Shower." The scene from the story where the boy and the girl avoid the rain shower together has become a favorite in many Korean romantic films (as depicted in Korean romantic comedy My Sassy Girl
My Sassy Girl
My Sassy Girl is a 2001 South Korean romantic comedy film directed by Kwak Jae-yong. It tells the story of a man's chance meeting with a drunk girl on the train which changes his life...
in 2001).
See also
- Korean literatureKorean literatureKorean literature is the body of literature produced in Korea or by Korean writers. For much of its 3,000 years of literature history, it was written both in Hanja and in Korean, first using the transcription systems idu and gugyeol, and finally using the Korean script Hangul. It is commonly...
- Contemporary culture of South KoreaContemporary culture of South KoreaThe contemporary culture of South Korea developed from the traditional culture of Korea, and on its own path away from North Korean culture since the division of Korea in 1948. The industrialization and urbanization of South Korea, especially Seoul, have brought many changes to the way Korean...
- List of Korea-related topics