• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.261-267
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• 2021

The enlightenment project raised in both Korea and China during the modern period worked as a part of the patriotic enlightenment movement against the imperial powers. Among them, "boy" appeared as the subject of enlightenment, and "sea" appeared as a medium. Specifically, through "Boy Discourse," Liang Qi Chao ultimately envisioned a nation for "subjects", and Choi Nam-seon also seeked to overcome the national crisis as "New Korea" and join the ranks of powerful nations. Liang Qiqiao proposes the concept of a "Boy Nation" and an "Old Nation" through boy discourse, and wishing for the development of the "Boy Nation" through "proficiency training". Choi Nam-seon also recognized that the future of the nation depends on "boys", influenced by Liang Qi-qiao's discourse on boys, and argues that Choseon should cultivate skills to become a "Boy Nation". In addition, Liang Qi-chao and Choi Nam-seon actively spread the "boy discourse" through the creation of poetry. Liang Qi Chao introduced the world's geography and history through poetries related to the sea, while at the same time inspiring a sense of challenge to recognize and pioneer the sea as a pathway that connects the world in a broad sense. Namseon Choi also created a poem that directly linked "the sea" and the "boy" to promote the "adventure at sea" and "the progressive spirit of the sea and the boy".