This paper is to try the globalization of Sijo, which is one of the representative Korean traditional literatures. For this goal, the values of Sijo as the ethnic literature have been searched and the necessity and method of reestablishing the position of Sijo have been studied.
In 21th century, Korea has achieved a great economic development. But Korea has not achieved the international position equivalent to its economic growth. That may be closely related to that fact that the government’s support for and interest in our literature as well as Korean people’s sympathy and interest in it are not formed well enough. To overcome this situation, it is essential for us to check and reevaluate the position of the Sijo literature. In addition, it is required now to establish the detailed method for globalization of the Sijo in the long term perspective.
Nowadays, as Sijo is wrongly deemed by Koreans that it is a form of difficult and old literatures, most of Korean people are not interested in Sijo. So, in this paper, the value of Sijo will be evaluated from new perspective by focusing on the fact that Sijo is one of Korean’s traditional literatures and has been together with Korean people for a long time. Sijo has described the idea and life of Korean people from Goryeo Period through Joseon Period to the present. During the Japanese imperialistic period, a sad period for Korean people, Sijo has been a means of expressing the sorrow and life of Korean people. At the same time, Sijo have played its role as one of independent movements in the name of Sijo recovery movement. In addition, in the moment of the independence from Japan, our ancestors expressed their joy through Sijo. So, it is evident that Sijo has a great value as the ethnic literature. Accordingly, we have to reestablish Sijo. As the ways to reestablish the Sijo, I suggest the “Expansion of education on Sijo”, “Competition of writing Sijo”, “Development and dissipation of Sijo card play”, “Continuation and expansion of the study on Sijo” and “Government’s support”.
On the other hand, based on the love of all Korean people toward Sijo, it is necessary to let the Sijo known to people around the world. As a way of it, I have tried to register Sijo as “an intangible asset of UNECO World Heritage”. I found out that the prerequisite for registering with UNECSO is the registration of Sijo as the key intangible asset with Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea. So, I have suggested to the Government and scholars to make effort for it. Other than that, I suggested that we have to communicate with the overseas scholars and people who are interested in Sijo and focus more on the English Sijo and the translation of Sijo into English as well as the Government’s political and financial support such as Japanese Government’s support for Haiku.
As these efforts specified above may not be achieved by the efforts of any individual or researcher only, they need the consistent efforts by both Government and scholars. These efforts would be consistent with those made to enhance the position of Korean in the world stage.