Michelle's Memories : Namwon, City of Love

I've touched a little in my first blog post on why Namwon is known as the city the love, but let's give you a little more information. The romance novel Chunhyangjeon, or The Story of Chunhyang, takes place in Namwon. It's a tragic tale of two lovers, Chunhyang Sung (meaning Spring Fragrance) and Yi Mongyong.

In short, there is a fair maiden named Chunhyang Sung; she's gracefully swinging from a tree in her garden , and simultaneously, a government offical's son named Yi falls in love with her the moment he beholds her. Yi travels to her home and asks Chungyang's mother for her daughter's hand in marriage. The mother concurs and the two are happily wedded.

Chunhyang Theme Park

Suddenly, Yi's father has to relocate to Seoul for governmental duties, and that also means Yi must follow his father's footsteps. Chunhyang is devastated; she gives him a ring as a token of her love, promising her faithfulness and loyalty until his return. After their departure, a replacement for his father arrives - Hakdo Pyon, a greedy and lustful government official. Instead of focusing on his work, he indulges in frolic, parties, and women. He also covets the beauty, Chunhyang. Thus, he invites her to his parties and his bed; however, Chunhyang firmly resists his invitations. She states, "I shall serve one husband with single-minded devotion." As a result, Pyon punishes Chunhyang by imprisoning and torturing her by flogging.

Chunhyang torture scene reenacted by a family. The mother is getting flogged by one of the boys and the other is playing the governor...Lol...the children casually play this like a game!

On Pyon's birthday, Chunhyang still responds adamantly with a very clear N-O, hence he schemes to end her by ordering his servants to beat her to death. Meanwhile, in Seoul, studious Yi receives the highest score in examination, thus he is rewarded the position of royal secret inspector, who investigates and prosecutes corrupt officials. Three years have passed and he returns to Namwon disguised as a servant, in a mission to investigate Pyon's conduct.

Yi discovers Pyon's ill-willed behavior and his wife's terrible situation. Chunhyang recognizes her husband in his camouflage, but still loves him wholeheartedly despite his 'lowly position'. On the other hand, her mother is very disgusted and displeased. In this test of love and faithfulness, Chunhyang still pleads her mother to respect and take care of her husband.

At Pyon's birthday celebration, Mongyong reveals his true identity and the crooked Pyon is arrested. Mongyong is then finally reunited with his beloved and the story closes.

Gwanghallu Garden

Chunhyangjeon is like the Korean version of Romeo and Juliet. There's a battle for love, corruption in the government, emotional turmoil, and without fail, an emphasis on the importance of examinations and work. The latter is my favourite. Of course the writer would somehow include testing in the pivotal point of the story; it's so ingrained in their culture! I got a good laugh from this.

Chunhyangjeon is a literary emblem of love, loyalty and faithfulness (to marriage or work - you decide) that Namwon proudly celebrates. Gwanghallu Garden and Chunhyang Theme Park are tourist attractions here and once a year there's the Chunhyang Festival, which brings a whole lot of people to Namwon. It was really amusing visiting these sites and I usually take whoever visits me to these. They always get a kick out of the experience. I'm happy to be living in this idiosyncratric city of love.