[우리문화신문=김슬옹 교수]  

 

 

 

1790년(정조 14년)에 책을 읽어주는 전문 직업인인 ‘전기수’가 낫에 찔려 목숨을 잃는 사건이 벌어졌다. 전기수는 종로 거리 연초 가게 앞에 사람들을 모아놓고 한글 소설책을 읽어주었다. 그러던 가운데 영웅이 뜻을 이루지 못한 대목에 이르자 이야기를 듣고 있던 한 사내가 눈을 부릅뜨고 입에 거품을 물면서 풀 베던 낫으로 전기수를 내리찍어 죽게 했다.

 

사내는 전기수가 이야기를 너무 실감 나게 들려주는 바람에 자신도 모르게 전기수를 악인으로 착각해서 죽였다고 말했다. 그만큼 많은 사람에게 한글 소설이 인기가 있었다는 것을 알 수 있다. 《정조실록》 1790(정조 14년) 8월 10일 참조

 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

A “Jeongi-su” is Killed by a Scythe While Reading a Hangeul Novel

[The History of Hangeul Through Illustrations 20]

 

In 1790 (the 14th year of King Jeongjo’s reign), a tragic incident occurred in which a professional storyteller, known as “Jeongi-su,” was stuck with a scythe and killed. Jeongi-su was a person hired to read books aloud and would gather a crowd in front of a tobacco shop in the Jongno district. On this occasion, he was reading a Hangeul novel to the crowd.

 

As the story reached a scene where the hero failed to achieve his goal, a man in the crowd became so emotionally involved in the narrative that he mistakenly thought the storyteller was the villain. In his agitation, the man attacked Jeongisu with a scythe, fatally wounding him.

 

The man later explained that the storyteller’s dramatic delivery had caused him to believe Jeongisu was the antagonist. This bizarre and tragic event highlights how popular Hangeul novels were at the time and how deeply they could affect their audience. It also emphasizes the power of storytelling, especially through the use of Hangeul, in connecting with the emotions of ordinary people. The incident was recorded in the Jeongjo Sillok (《Annals of King Jeongjo》, dated August 10, 1790.)

 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

ハングル小説を読み聞かせていた「伝奇叟（チョンギス）」、鎌で刺されて死亡

[絵で見るハングルの歴史 20]

 

1790年（正祖14年）、本を読み聞かせる専門職である「伝奇叟（チョンギス）」が、鎌で刺されて命を落とす事件が起きた。伝奇叟は、鍾路（チョンノ）の街にある煙草屋の前に人々を集め、ハングル小説を読み聞かせていた。その最中、英雄が志を果たせない場面に差し掛かると、話を聞いていた一人の男が目を血走らせ、口から泡を吹きながら、草刈り用の鎌で伝奇叟を振り下ろして殺害した。

 

男は、伝奇叟があまりにも臨場感たっぷりに話を語るため、思わず伝奇叟を悪人だと錯覚して殺してしまったと供述した。それほど多くの人々にハングル小説が人気を博していたことが伺える。※『正祖実録』1790年（正祖14年）8月10日の条を参照。