The Descendants of Cain



The Descendants of Cain (카인의 후예) is a novel by Hwang Sun-won (황순원).

Published in 1954 in Seoul, it was instantly popular and has continued to be a steady seller ever since. It was selected by LTI Korea for translation into English and French.

Plot
Set in 1946, the novel's central theme is the forced collectivization of agricultural land in North Korea, a national crisis that altered the path of the history of Korea. The main character Pak Hun goes through a romantic experience with a married daughter of his tenent farmer, which greatly changes his worldview and opinions on the Soviet occupation of Korea.

Film
The novel was adapted into a 1968 movie directed by Yu Hyun-mok.