"The Road to Sampo" - A Journey of Discovery, Sharing, and Transformation

"I read the short story "The Road to Sam Po" hoping to learn about South Korea during its industrialization process, and through the work I gained a fairly clear understanding, while also finding similarities between the societies and people of the two countries during the period of reform. It's fascinating how this literary work allows someone who hasn't lived in the time and space of the past to still feel a relatively complete sense of life in a country they've never visited. In other words, this is the magic of the work, brought to the reader by the artistic talent of writer Hwang Sok Young.(Excerpt from an article by Pham Thanh Huyen).

A journey to discover the beauty within the human soul.

After enduring the ups and downs of life in exile, the characters in the work have transformed along the way, but this is merely a facade to cope with a harsh life full of deception and cruelty.

The initial, less-than-favorable impressions gradually faded away, and deep within each soul lay a yearning for a peaceful life in their homeland. This simple yet noble dream became evident in their journey to rediscover what they once had. And it was this very dream that became the solid foundation upon which a close bond of friendship was forged between these three former strangers.

When Young Dal first met Jeong, he didn't have a good impression of him, thinking he was "talking nonsense because he'd eaten something strange," and this made him "suddenly angry." But as their conversation progressed, Young Dal came to understand Jeong better, noting that "this newcomer's way of talking is always like that," which made Young Dal "unable to get angry, only laugh." The understanding between the two gradually expanded. "Looking directly at him, he didn't seem like a fierce-looking person; what Young Dal thought of first was his pleasant, no longer hateful attitude."

And Jeong's attitude towards Young Dal gradually became friendlier, he asked Young Dal "very affectionately": "Have you had breakfast yet?". These seemingly small gestures radiated the warmth of friendship, bridging the gap between two people who initially seemed incompatible.

Mutual understanding and empathy were further heightened during the chance encounter between Young Dal, Jeong, and Baek Hwa. Before meeting Baek Hwa, Young Dal and Jeong had heard about a runaway barmaid and felt a fleeting sense of regret: "Oh, if only Baek Hwa were here, I'd have her sit beside me and pour me drinks." Then, upon meeting Baek Hwa on their way through the second village to Gam Cheon, her sharp wit, bordering on sarcasm, surprised the two men: she "scoffed disdainfully at Young Dal's crude words," "turned around abruptly, and shoved Young Dal in the chest with surprising force and speed," then "grabbed a cloth bundle with one hand and put the other on her hip," and "gave a speech." All of this left Young Dal "gasping, unable to stand up, remaining in that slumped position," feeling "ashamed," while Jeong had to "struggle to suppress his laughter." But behind those actions and words was sincerity and honesty, and it was this very sincerity that quickly resolved conflicts and bonded the three together on their journey to a new life.

The genuine beauty of these people's souls is gradually revealed and exposed throughout the journey.

Young Dal is a responsible person, as evidenced by his story to Ok Ja and his final thoughts about Baek Hwa when they parted ways in Gam Choen. In his mind, Young Dal couldn't allow himself to be with the women he loved while lacking the means to provide them with a comfortable life. So, when unemployed, Young Dal promised Ok Ja, "When I have enough money, we'll meet again and live together," but he remains a "wanderer," and this reality torments him in his sleep: "Night after night, I often can't sleep, because I stay awake thinking about her." When he meets Baek Hwa, although he longs to "end his wandering life," the lack of direction in the future overwhelms him with the thought of "having the ability," and his face "becomes sad, staring blankly out of the train station." If a person can't even take care of themselves, it's difficult for them to properly care for their loved ones. Putting the happiness of those he loves above his own feelings, Young Dal is a very responsible man. Through Young Dal's story, we can also see the reality that love and the struggle for survival are two completely different things, and some love stories end because of that very struggle for survival.

Young Dal, Jeong, and Beak Hwa – three people who are increasingly understanding each other. They no longer speak rudely to each other, Baek Hwa is "no longer as resentful as before," and begins to confide in her two companions about her life. Side by side on the increasingly difficult road, in the cold weather, the three walk together, leaning on each other, close. Everyday stories, yet like jokes, make the atmosphere more intimate. Baek Hwa notices Young Dal's masculine traits: "You...are not a bad guy at all," "watching you blow on the fire, I think it's quite amazing," "your shoulders are so broad. You could probably carry three people." As for Baek Hwa, "that face, bathed in the firelight, is quite beautiful." Within her lies the hidden beauty of a gentle, feminine woman, one who knows how to care for others. Baek Hwa's love story with the prisoners: "Love in the red-light district, even if it's driven by money, but once you've truly loved, that unwavering devotion is terrifying." This is the deep yearning for love in the soul of a "master prostitute"—a woman whose heart seems to have been swept away by money and the deceit of life. Even a small act—"breaking off half of her portion and giving it to Young Dal: - Eat some more. You must be exhausted from carrying me"—shows her thoughtfulness. It also reveals the woman's affection in farewells, in the final moments before departure, "with teary eyes, Baek Hwa smiles" and tells her two friends her real name. Between these people, the distance disappears, and private secrets are revealed. Perhaps when Baek Hwa decided to reveal his name, he had complete trust in Young Dal and Jeong, and hoped to meet them again someday.

The writer Hwang Sok Young helps readers gradually discover the bright spots in the souls of his characters. To quote the Vietnamese writer Nam Cao, we need to "strive to understand" to see the good nature of humanity: "For those around us, if we don't try to understand them, we only see them as eccentric, foolish, vile, and wicked; we never see them as pitiable, we never feel compassion." These gems of the soul are hidden within the sharp-tongued, shrewish appearance of a prostitute, the coldness and mocking tone of Jeong, and the seemingly "free-spirited, despicable man." With profound humanism, Hwang Sok Young brings people back to their true values. The journey to Sam Po is also a journey to discover the beauty within people – people who seem to have been driven to the brink by society but still yearn for a brighter tomorrow, and the inherent goodness in their souls will be an invaluable asset to help them confidently move forward on their new path.

"The Road to Sam Po" is a journey of lonely souls seeking the warmth of human connection, friendship, and sharing.

Young Dal appears right at the beginning of the story, without a clear direction, "pausing for a moment, considering where to go." So what prompted him to follow Jeong – a complete stranger, someone who hadn't even made a good impression on him? It was the feeling of loneliness on that uncertain path that made him long for companionship, and Young Dal felt the same way: "I just knew that walking without a companion would be incredibly long. Even if we parted ways along the way, I wanted someone to be my travel companion." The call of humanity surged within Young Dal; "he paused, lost in thought, then followed the other man" – a truly humane act in anyone in Young Dal's situation.

Initially, when Young Dal accompanied her, Jeong still maintained her aloof demeanor, responding to Young Dal's remarks with silence or very brief sentences. And although she "seemed unaffected by the cold, fully equipped with a fur hat and a field coat, and appeared quite healthy," this didn't mean Jeong didn't need companionship. Young Dal's openness gradually changed Jeong, making her friendlier and more approachable.

The road ahead became increasingly difficult, but together, they "walked side by side with confidence," "their footprints constantly extending along the path." Perhaps their unwavering resolve stemmed from a friendship that, though newly formed, had already become deeply personal?

The encounter with Baek Hwa was very natural, and the three of them "walked together on a snow-covered path." Three strangers met and gradually became close friends along the way.

Perhaps the most beautiful image in the work is the scene of the three people resting by a fire in the freezing cold. They huddle together not only to draw warmth from the fire but also to seek the warmth of human connection. This fire of human connection is the true and lasting warmth; though newly kindled, it burns ever brighter, warming lonely souls not only in the bitter cold of winter but throughout their lives.

""The Road to Sam Po" - A journey to find a new life.

The greatest journey in the work is the search for a new chapter in life, the yearning for a better life than the present. This is a path truly fraught with difficulties and unexpected changes at the end.

Throughout the work, we follow Jeong and Baek Hoa's journey back to their hometowns, and Young Dal's quest for a new life. Each has their own path, but they all share a common goal: a constant pursuit and hope for a better future.

Young Dal wants to escape his old life, a life of uncertainty and instability. He wants to find a new beginning, even though he doesn't know where he'll go or what he'll do, but it will certainly be a new life, better than his current one.

Jeong emerged from prison after more than 10 years with a burning desire to return to his hometown and live the life of an honest worker, armed with the skills he had learned during his arduous time in prison.

Baek Hoa, a girl whose life was spent wandering in bars, thought she could just continue living that way, but a burning desire to start over simmered within her every morning, and it erupted when she escaped from the bar.

While reading this work, I was deeply impressed by Jeong's determination to return and build a new life for himself in his beautiful homeland. His direction was clear from the moment he appeared in the story. When Young Dal said that in such a cold winter, Jeong had "chosen the wrong path; in this winter weather, that place would only be a remote one," he responded confidently, "That is my homeland," and even though he might not find any acquaintances there upon returning, "because I'm getting older, I want to go back home." No matter where a person goes or what they do in any part of the world, they always yearn for their homeland, especially after all the ups and downs they've experienced; their homeland remains the most cherished haven. And perhaps this sentiment is the same everywhere; Vietnam also has many works written about people rebuilding their lives on their own homeland, like the characters in the works of Anh Duc, Nguyen Khai, Kim Lan, Bui Hien, and others.

Jeong's hometown in his memory is beautiful: "It's truly a very beautiful island. The land is fertile all around, perfect for fishing to your heart's content." Just two short sentences are enough to convey his pride in Sam Po, his birthplace, and his dream of a wonderful life there in the future. Although the road to Sam Po is still long, far to the "misty south," he has prepared thoroughly for his journey home, both in terms of his belongings and the skills he learned at "the main house." The two companions on the road only strengthen Jeong's resolve. Jeong's destination was clear from the moment he set out, and it remained clear throughout his journey home, even upon reaching Gam Cheon town: "I'm going back to Sam Po." It seems Jeong's determination has spread to the readers as well. I'm genuinely happy that after a long journey, he finally reached the train station to end his arduous trip. A bright future seems within reach.

But after just a brief conversation with the old man at the train station, Jeong was overwhelmed with a sense of emptiness, as if he had lost something intangible, a vision suddenly vanishing into thin air. Everything became hazy and elusive. As someone who had experienced life firsthand, having tasted the "taste of life" in prison, he understood that: "This was a time when the world was changing rapidly in just one or two years." Yet he still couldn't have imagined the rapid transformation of his hometown, the land where "they only fished and grew potatoes," now "built with countless tourist hotels, the complexity of which is indescribable," "full of construction workers. There's even a market built there." Jeong's surprises continued to pile up as he listened to the old man's story, constantly questioning the images of Sam Po from the past. The loss in his spirit is that the images of his homeland have now truly become just a memory – a place Jeong had always thought about and resolved to return to, but now, to him, it has become "strange." And "as people grow, things must change; as people grow, they will forget even the sky." This poignant philosophy pierces Jeong's heart, and this loss brings with it the rapid collapse of his seemingly realistic and achievable dream, the life of a wooden boat builder now becoming an illusion. "The old sea has been filled in and a new road built, so what good are wooden boats?" He has "forgotten the clear purpose of his heart" – the goal he had long ago clearly defined, almost reached, but then stumbled due to the disharmony of the times, the more than ten years he hadn't returned home had shattered it and left a deep wound in him, "Jeong's feet wander aimlessly."

Reading to the end of the work, although the author doesn't mention Baek Hwa's next steps, perhaps even her simple dream of returning to her hometown to "live quietly, stay in one place, farm, and just stay at home" seems difficult in a reality that is changing every day.

"The Road to Sam Po" was written during the 1970s in South Korea, a period of rapid economic reform and industrialization. The work addresses the negative aspects of this process; rural areas received investment for development, but this also created difficulties for farmers transitioning to a new life, requiring them to change their mindset and occupations to adapt. This left deep wounds in people accustomed to farming and fishing. The author delved into their psychology to successfully create the character of Jeong – a typical farmer caught in the whirlwind of reform.

Reading this short story, I was reminded of Nguyen Huy Tuong's "The Retired General," written during Vietnam's period of reform. The similarity between these two works lies in the disconnect from the times, the loss and spiritual emptiness of the old man in the face of the dizzying changes of society during the industrialization era. This overlap is perhaps due to the fact that the two stories were written at different times but in similar circumstances – a period when both countries were beginning their industrialization and modernization processes. This very similarity has created a close connection between the literatures of two countries that are geographically distant. Perhaps, Vietnam and South Korea are two countries that, althoughdistantbut nostrangeThis is partly thanks to works like "The Road to Sam Po" and authors like writer Hwang Sok Young.

But the work doesn't evoke a sense of pessimism; instead, it opens a new path. The reader realizes that these three individuals are capable of adapting to their new lives. Jeong thinks of Baek Hwa, "Even though each person is in a different situation, perhaps she will be able to do the same." Young Dal, after hearing Sam Po's story of transformation, also envisions a new future: "Great, let's go find a job at the construction site." And in Jeong's thoughts, although the emotional loss is irreplaceable, he quickly reorients himself in reality: "Suddenly, Jeong's feelings are the same as Young Dal's." This belief, though vague, will be the foundation for these people to overcome new challenges. And reality has proven that South Korea has successfully transformed, bringing a new, beautiful, and bright face to the Land of Kimchi.

The Road to Sam Po – A journey showcasing the artistic talent of writer Hwang Sok Young.

One value that cannot be overlooked is the author Hwang Sok Young's masterful depiction of the external environment, which evokes the characters' emotions and circumstances, contributing to the profound meaning of the work.

The impression of nature throughout the work is characterized by contrasts between light and shadow, warm air and the biting cold of winter.The external setting in the work has a predictive meaning..

The story opens with a warm, inviting scene: "Under the morning sun, the barren field gradually becomes clearer; everywhere, puddles of mud and frozen streams sparkle with the reflection of the early morning rays." This morning sunlight isn't bright enough to illuminate a scorching day, but it makes the landscape beautiful in a gentle and warm way. The bare trees, the barren field, and the puddles of mud shed their dullness, gradually brightening and sparkling. The new sunshine and gentle breeze make everything, though desolate, beautiful, soulful, and full of life. Standing amidst this scene, Young Dal feels compelled to set out on a journey, though unsure of the direction, to seek a new beginning.

While contemplating where to go, Young Dal met Jeong at a time when "the sun rose, yin and yang energies separated," "there were rustling sounds here and there from the frozen ground, cracking in places hidden by the shadows of forest trees or hills," and "the sun had begun to melt the ice in the low-lying areas, revealing muddy red soil." It seemed that life was stirring, and the changes in the earth and sky were becoming more apparent, like a new signal. And a new person also appeared – Jeong, a student on a journey back to his homeland to build a new life.

The predictive nature of the weather is clearly demonstrated in the concluding sentence of the work: "The ship sailed towards the dark field covered with snowflakes." The bright and clear path at the beginning of the work now seems illusory and elusive, much like Jeong's own reality at this moment.

Nature sometimes shares human experiences, but at other times it becomes a challenge that must be overcome.“The road sloped downwards, winding around the mountains, running along the riverbank, stretching as far as the eye could see. The fields were desolate; the houses that had been there before were nowhere to be seen. Dry, tangled reeds swayed, and on the other side of the river, the wind and sand blew everywhere.” The path Young Dal and Jeong took grew further and further from any human habitation. The difficulties increased, “the wind blew broken pieces of rock against their faces, causing them pain,” and the road back remained obscured, the snow falling more heavily, everything becoming hazy, “on the dry rooftops, thin wisps of smoke were so faint that they were almost imperceptible as they melted and drifted away.” As the two companions set off, the sunlight gave way to cold, white snowflakes: “The sun disappeared behind low clouds, so the surrounding landscape looked dull, as if viewed through yellow-tinted glass.” The journey to Sam Po was not easy, but Jeong remained determined to go, demonstrating his strong will to return to his hometown. And because of the friendship between the three, the more difficult the natural conditions, the closer they became: "Snow clung to their feet, but they didn't find it inconvenient; on the contrary, they felt a warmth when they saw the snow," "When going up the steep path, Young Dal and Jeong had to support her on either side to prevent her from falling."

Through their perspective on nature, the characters' personalities are also clearly depicted.Young Dal is quite refined and sensitive, "watching the snow fall, all worries seem to disappear...", while Jeong is quite practical and experienced: "Look, those snowflakes are so beautiful, I'm sure there will be a good snowfall next year," "At first, the mood was good, but if it keeps snowing like this, our travel won't be easy at all."

Along the way, they encountered a fork in the road where the signpost was rusted and faded. Sometimes in life, we also stand at crossroads and must choose the right path. With the help of an elderly person, the two chose and resolved to follow that path, and strangely enough, they met Baek Hwa. The writer skillfully interwoven his artistic intentions by using the external setting to express this.

I particularly enjoyed the philosophical quotes about life in the work; they added profound depth to the story, reflecting the author's contemplations on life and prompting much thought from the reader.

- "Traveling without a companion makes the journey seem so long."

- "Because I'm getting old, I want to go back to my hometown."

- "Because even if we have to starve, having money makes us feel more secure."

- "People, you know, if you don't spend a lot of time together, it's very easy to forget each other, it's just natural."

- "It's not just prison; isn't even life itself a sea of ​​suffering?"

- "How can we know what will happen? When fate brings us together, we can anchor ourselves and live life to the fullest."

- "This was a time when the world was changing at lightning speed, in just one or two years."

- "As the population grows, things have to change, don't they? As the population increases, we'll forget about the sky altogether."

I read the short story "The Road to Sam Po" hoping to learn about South Korea during its industrialization process, and through the work I gained a fairly clear understanding, while also finding similarities between the societies and people of the two countries during the period of reform. It's fascinating how this literary work allows someone who hasn't lived in the time and space of the past to still feel a relatively complete sense of life in a country they've never visited. In other words, this is the magic of the work, brought to the reader by the artistic talent of writer Hwang Sok Young.