THE GROUNDBREAKING ADVENTURE OF NA HYE SEOK
The Beginning
In 1896, I was born into a moderately wealthy family in South Korea. I was different from the typical expectations that society had for women; I grew up with confidence, intelligence and ambition. I had a dream. During that era, the societal expectations for women were to be good at chores around the household, sewing, and cooking. Essentially, women were born to be mothers and wives and stepping out of this role was taboo. Educating and leading the sons towards success was the biggest goal in every household. I swore not to singularly follow the path of the typical ‘good mother’ and ‘good wife’ and conform to societal ideals in Korea, but rather, to live as an educated artist.
Education
I challenged convention and was educated in an art school in Japan. Studying in Tokyo opened up my mindset and views on the world and I was able to find out how many varied opportunities there actually were in the world. I led the Tokyo Women's International Student Club and I soon became the first woman to host an exhibition with my own paintings and art in Seoul. Nevertheless, I was also the first Korean woman to receive a Bachelor of Arts in Western painting.
Independence
After graduation, I was part of the Korean independence movement on March 1st, 1919, which is currently a national holiday in Korea known as the 3.1 Independence Movement. Protesters who were involved in this independence movement were punished, and the lucky ones who weren’t killed were, at the minimum, jailed and tortured. I was also imprisoned for six months. I did not blindly follow Japan and give up her country's freedom. I figured out how to write messages on torn fabric with her nails, and this experience taught her that nothing was impossible.
Marriage
I eventually got married to Kim Woo Young in 1920 after a non-traditional courtship. During this time, dating before marriage was not very common, but this was natural for me. I did not follow the traditional marriage culture and I also made a promise with my husband to let me continue my career as an artist after the marriage. When society indicated a woman as the one responsible for raising the child, I criticized men who don’t contribute to raising the children.
Sad ending?
Due to my bold and controversial perspective on how men should treat women and how women’s rights should change, I got myself into a lot of trouble. People started to boycott my drawings and not appreciate the value of the art pieces. Other hardships I faced were divorce, imprisonment, and being looked down on by the general public.
Eminent ending!
However, despite going through all these hardships, I, Na Hye-Soek did not change my core beliefs. Even if people did not agree with my opinions, I boldly lived by what I believed, no matter what society was trying to force upon me. The more people rejected my ideas and my claims, the more I tried to prove my point.
Frankly put, other people’s rejection of me was the fuel to my fire, and my dream for equality only got stronger. If it was not for me, the equality Korean women take for granted now would have never existed. I was able to go against the grain, fighting against and changing the traditional concept of South Korea’s male supremacy.