How did Yi Kyu-Bo and Yi Il-Lo disagree about the purpose of literature?

In the context of Korean literature during the later Koryŏ period, Yi Il-Lo and Yi Kyu-Bo held differing views on the purpose and nature of writing, which were central to the development of literary criticism at the time.1

Yi Il-Lo, in his work P’ahan chip (“Jottings to Break Up Idleness”), emphasized the aesthetic value of literature, specifically praising the use of beautifully chiseled sentences.1

In contrast, Yi Kyu-Bo challenged this perspective in his Paegun sosŏl (“Jottings by Old Man White Cloud”). He argued that literature should prioritize content over ornamentation and asserted that creativity is the most important element of artistic production. This debate reflected the evolving intellectual landscape of the period as scholar-bureaucrats sought to define the role and standards of their literary contributions.1