Discovery of Jeong Bi-seok's Novel 'Jayubu-in' Trial Work in 1951 Police Magazine 'Cheol-gyeong'

'Cheol-gyeong' inaugural issue. [Photo by Korean National Police University]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] The Korean Police History Research Institute at the Korean National Police University announced on the 12th that it has discovered the short story "Professor Shin and Divorce - A Fable for Adults," a trial work of writer Jeong Bi-seok (1911?1991)'s "Free Wife" (1954), in the inaugural issue of the police magazine "Cheol-gyeong (鐵警)".

"Cheol-gyeong" was launched by the Railroad Police Unit in November 1951 and is presumed to have ceased publication with its 20th issue in July 1953 when the Railroad Police Unit was disbanded.

The main content of the newly discovered short story is that "Choi Kyung-ok, the wife of Dr. Shin who studied in the United States, falls in love with Shin's student Shim Hyung-chan and demands a divorce but is refused, while her husband maintains his reputation." It is similar to the plot of "Free Wife," which was serialized in the Seoul Shinmun from January to August 1954 and sparked intense social debate at the time.

The Korean Police History Research Institute plans to reveal detailed information at an online academic seminar titled "Literature, Symbols, and Films with Police History," scheduled for the 14th of this month.

Lee Yoon-jung, director of the Korean Police History Research Institute, said, "Jeong Bi-seok had already completed the concept of the work in 1951, before serializing 'Free Wife' in 1954, and it appears that he expanded it into a full-length novel three years later."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.