In the summer of 1986, when I was concentrating on writing my first book “Modern Law of the Sea ” the sisterhoods in Seoul have sent me a message; ―Let’s go on a journey this summer, to Ssangeosa, and to Hwaeomsa Temple”. I did not even know whether there was a “summer vacation system” in the Navy. So, we just started to make a journey in good momentum from Navy apartment in Jinhae in the sunny summer morning, just shouting “Let’s go on a journey!”
A small walkway along the Chocksuok-ru ( A memorial pavilion for the righteous Heroin Kisaeng Nongae論介 ) will take you to a small entrance. If you descend through this entrance to the foot of Namgang River, there is a wide rock called ‘Yi-Am'(義岩; Rock of Justice). This is the place where Heroin Kisaeng Nongae(論介) jumped into the river with the enemy Japanese general and made him drown and dead in 1592 Japanese Invasion.
No matter how drunk he was, he would have been a warrior, could he be just drowned? Honestly speaking, I had a doubt. However, looking at the Namgang River, I recalled the poem ‘Nongae’ for a while. This poem was written by a famous poet Sooju Byon Yeong-ro. I tried to translate it into English.
Holy fury, Deeper than religion
Passionate heat, Stronger than love
Oh, more blue than bean flower, On that wave
More red than poppy flowers, Your red heart go and flow.
Grace eye brow highly shaken in pain
Your pomegranate lips kissed the death.
Oh, more blue than bean flower, On that wave
More red than poppy flowers, Your red heart go and flow.
The flowing river will be blue, ever and ever
Your spirit like a flower, only but flowery red
More red than poppy flowers, Your red heart go and flow.
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