VOL.69/2024.04

 

[Book & Media ②]

Namhansanseong Fortress

To Surrender, or to Fight until the Last Minute, That is the Question

 

2023.03.13

 

 

Byungjahoran (the Qing’s invasion of Joseon in Byungja year, 1636-1637) is a war that broke out in 1636 between Joseon and the Qing dynasty of China. The Qing invaded Joseon in anger at Joseon’s pro-Ming policy (a foreign policy favoring the Ming dynasty). Consequently, the then ruler of Joseon, King Injo (r. 1623-1649), fled the royal palace and retreated to Namhansanseong fortress (Namhansanseong is a historical mountain fortress city 25km southeast of Seoul, South Korea), where he resisted. As such, Byungjahoran marks a watershed event in the history of East Asia, signaling the power transition in China from Ming to Qing. The 47-day refuge of King Injo in the Namhansanseong fortress was fictionalized and introduced to the public by the book Namhansanseong Fortress (Hakgojae Publishers) written by Korean novelist Kim Hoon in 2007.
Namhansanseong Fortress is part of the “trilogy of Kim Hoon’s historical fiction,” along with Song of the Sword (Munhakdongne), fictionalizing the life story of admiral Lee Soon-Sin of Joseon, and Song of Strings (Munhakdongne), portraying the reality of Gaya (an ancient federation) and the songs of a musician Uruk. Thanks to its popularity, the book was adapted into a musical in 2009 and a movie in 2017. Starring top Korean actors, namely Lee Byung-Hun, Kim Yoon-Suk, and Pak Hae-Il, the movie “The Fortress” was released with high expectations from movie fans and readers of Namhansanseong Fortress. The film features two diverging philosophies on how to survive the crisis: whether to “surrender to Qing and seek stabilization of Joseon as early as possible” or “protect the dignity of Joseon at all costs even by engaging in a war against the Qing dynasty.” The novel and the movie elaborately depict Joseon’s painful hesitation in turning to either of the stances. Let’s check out the novel and film’s record of the 47-day resistance in Namhansanseong fortress during which Joseon was at the crossroads of life and death.

 

 

PlotGrowing Dilemma: To Surrender or To Fight?

 

As the large force of the Qing dynasty advanced in the winter of 1636, Joseon had no choice but to take refuge in the fortress. Spending 47 days in such a completely isolated stronghold was a grueling experience for the king, royal officials, and the people alike. Since they were running out of food and military supplies, the refugees had to make porridge out of thatched roofs or straw bags, but it was served to horses first. The people had to survive the harsh winter and starved in a house without a roof. Life or death. Survival or extinction… What decision should Joseon make in the siege of Qing?
The courtiers exhibited starkly different views: Juhwapa scholars argued that the utmost priority was to protect the people of Joseon even if it would cost surrender and humiliation, while Cheokhwapa, the opposite faction, insisted that Joseon fight the Qing until the very end as a proud nation. As both arguments were equally reasonable and suggested out of true loyalty to the kingdom of Joseon, it was never easy for King Injo to side with one of them. The bitter cold and starvation became unbearable, and the Qing ruthlessly applied pressure on Joseon. In the end, Joseon surrendered, but the ceaseless, heated debate between Juhwapa and Cheokhwapa that leads up to the decision fills the audience with tension.

 

Book vs MovieCalmly or Urgently

 

#1. Calm Storytelling in Novel and Pressing Narrative in Movie

 

Byungjahoran is fairly well known to Koreans, as the aggression has been taught in school. However, revisiting the knowledge through a novel and a movie feels as fresh as learning new information. The novel Namhansanseong Fortress describes the misery of the king, officials, and people ahead of war with a calm voice. Kim Hoon’s cool-headed narration in his novel reminds the readers of the piercing cold of winter, giving a second-hand experience of the appalling consequences of the war. The movie “The Fortress” features the fierce confrontation between actor Lee Byung-Hun, the leader of Juhwapa in the film, and Kim Yoon-Suk, the leader of Cheokhwapa. The beautiful performance of the two top Korean actors makes the viewers sweat and wring their hands and look forward to the upcoming scene.

 

#2. Exceptional Performance of Popular Actors

 

Lee Byung-Hun and Kim Yoon-Suk, the lead characters of the film, have shown remarkable performances as various characters in many films, including the Netflix series “Squid Game (2021)” and “The War of Flower (2006)” which were loved by fans outside Korea as well. Further, actor Park Hae-Il, who played King Injo, has impressed international movie fans with his recent film “Decision to Leave (2022),” directed by Park Chan-Wook. “The Fortress” is further improved by the impeccable performances of many other supporting actors, such as Cho Woo-Jin from the TV drama “Narcos-Saints (2022)” and Jin Seon-Gyu from the movie “The Outlaws (2017).” The book characters are brought to life by the familiar actors with their stunning performances, and comparing the film with what we had imagined as readers adds to the fun.

 

#3. The Story of Namhansanseong Fortress Portrayed in Book and Film

 

Learning about a conflict and confrontation through a book or a movie is appealing in its own way. Even the same scene can be depicted in completely different ways. For instance, in a book, “cold winter” would be described with many sentences that trigger the imagination of readers, while in a movie, it is portrayed by an array of visual effects such as actors wearing winter clothes, snowfall in the sky, and cold breath. The book and the film were both favorably received for their illustration of the grim historical events in Namhansanseong fortress, though the methods differed. After watching the movie, the author of Namhansanseong Fortress, Kim Hoon, said, “In any case, the producer has the discretion to create the movie, but nonetheless, “The Fortress” well conveys my intentions.” I hope to see more people getting excited while discovering the differences or similarities between the novel and the film after finishing both of them.

 

 

* Teaser of the movie “The Fortress”

 

 

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Written by Choi Ha-Yeong