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영어

Kim Gu (1211-1278) was the main person responsible for the preparation of King Wonjong's diplomatic letters to Mongol after the submission of Koryeo to Mongol. The diplomatic letters drawn by him are important materials to understand King Wonjong's relations with Mongol in the transition period from resistance to submission. This paper is to examine the contents of Kim Gu's diplomatic activities and his perception of Mongol. After examining some of his poetry pieces written by Kim Gu during the war period under the rule of King Gojong, it becomes clear that at that time Kim Gu was quite resistant towards Mongols. The deep emotions and condolences towards the victims of the Mongol soldiers are clearly expressed in his earlier writings. However, while the war became to extend for a long time, Kim Gu at last seemed to agree with the civil servants of those days declaring consolidation with Mongol. Especially the diplomatic letters written under the rule of King Wonjong were quite positively worshipping the power of Mongol. This shows the idea that Kim Gu's perception of Mongol empire switched from anti-Mongol to pro-Mongol. Nevertheless, having in mind that such official state affairs of his were completed under the delicate changes in the diplomacy with Mongol Empire, it should rather say that his perception of Mongol Empire switched from anti-Yuan to pro-Yuan point of view under such subtle political change than that his awareness towards Mongol Empire changed radically.