[우리문화신문=김슬옹 교수]

1727년(영조 3년), 김만중의 딸이자 신임옥사 때 죽임을 당한 이이명의 처인 김씨 부인은 손자와 시동생의 목숨을 살리기 위해 영조에게 한글 탄원서를 올렸다.

탄원서의 크기는 가로 81.5cm, 세로 160cm에 달할 정도로 크다. 정자로 정성 들여 쓴 글에서는 정치적 격변기에 집안의 위기를 맞은 사대부 여성의 절박한 심정이 생생하게 느껴진다. 김만중은 한글을 나랏글로 삼아 한다고 주장하고 한글 소설 〈구운몽〉, 〈사씨남정기〉 등을 직접 쓴 빼어난 한글문학가이자 평론가였다.

Submitting a Petition in Hangeul for the Family’s Sake

In 1727 (the 3rd year of King Yeongjo’s reign), Kim Man-jung’s daughter, the wife of Lee Im-yeong, submitted a petition in Hangeul to King Yeongjo. This petition was a desperate plea to save the lives of her grandson and brother-in-law, who were in danger of being executed during the political turmoil of the time.

The petition was notably large, measuring 81.5 cm in width and 160 cm in height, and was meticulously written in regular script (jeongja) with great care. Through the content of this heartfelt petition, the anguish and urgency of a noblewoman facing the political crisis of her family during a period of political upheaval in Joseon is vividly conveyed. This act of using Hangeul, a common written script at the time, underscores the ongoing evolution of Hangeul’s role in Korean society.

Kim Man-jung, a renowned Hangeul writer and critic, was a strong proponent of using Hangeul as the national script. He wrote several famous Hangeul novels, including Guwonmong (The Cloud Dream of the Nine) and Sassinamjeonggi (The Story of Lady Sa’s Rise to Power), which demonstrated his mastery of Hangeul literature and the potential of the script to communicate deeply emotional and political matters. This petition, written by Kim Man-jung’s daughter, exemplifies the powerful role that Hangeul played in personal, family, and political contexts during the Joseon Dynasty.