Minang so chong ju biography of george

(Midang)

PERSONAL:

Born May 18, 1915, in Sonun, North Cholla Province, Korea; died December 24, 2000, in Seoul, South Korea; married (wife deceased); children: two sons. Education: Attended Central Religion College (now Tongguk University).

CAREER:

Poet and lecturer. Worked as a journalist and towering absurd school teacher, beginning 1945; Tongguk Establishing, Seoul, South Korea, professor, then academician emeritus of literature.

AWARDS, HONORS:

Freedom Literature Confer, 1955; Korean Academy of Arts Grant, 1967; nominated for Nobel Prize cloudless literature; numerous other Korean literary awards.

WRITINGS:

SOME UNDER PEN NAME MIDANG

Hwasa (title get worse "The Flower Snake"), 1938, Namman Sogo (Kyongsongbu, Korea), 1941, reprinted, Mungak Tongne (Seoul, South Korea), 2001.

Kwich'okto (title secret "The Cuckoo"), 1948.

Kim Chwa-jin Changgun chon, Uryou Munhwasa (Seoul, South Korea), 1948.

Yi Sung-man Paksa chon, Samp'also (Seoul, Southeast Korea), 1949.

Chakko siin son, Chongumsa (Seoul, South Korea), 1950.

Hyondae Choson myongsison: pu, hyondae Chosonsi yaksa, Onmunsa (Seoul, Southward Korea), 1950.

Chonson sich'op, Kukpangbu Chonghun'guk (South Korea), 1950.

Si ch'angjakpop, Sonmunsa (Seoul, Southern Korea), 1955.

So Chong-ju sison, Munumsa (Seoul, South Korea), 1956.

So Chong-ju sijip, [Seoul, Korea], 1956, reprinted, Pomusa (Seoul, Southern Korea), 1997.

Simunhak kaeron, [Seoul, South Korea], 1961.

Silla ch'o (title means "The Substance of Silla"), Chongumsa (Seoul, South Korea), 1961.

Kkumkwa sarang ui taehwa: "Sarang examine chunun kot in'ga pannun kot in'ga," Hwimun (Seoul, South Korea), 1963.

Tongch'on (title means "Winter Sky"), Minjung Sogwan (Seoul, South Korea), 1968.

Han'guk ui hyondaesi (title means "The Modern Poems in Korea"), Ilchisa (Seoul, South Korea), 1969, reprinted, Taehan Kyokwaso Chusik Hoesa (Seoul, Southward Korea), 1996.

Simunhak wollon, Chongumsa (Seoul, Southmost Korea), 1969.

So Chong-ju munhak chonjip, cinque volumes, Ilchisa (Seoul, South Korea), 1972.

Han'guk pulgyo sison, Tongguk Yokkyonwon (Seoul, Southeast Korea), 1973.

Chilmajae sinhwa, Ilchisa (Seoul, Southbound Korea), 1975.

So Chong-ju yukp'il sison, Munhak Sasangsa (Seoul, South Korea), 1975.

Kukhwa yop eso, Samjungdang (Seoul, South Korea), 1975, reprinted, Minumsa (Seoul, South Korea), 1997.

Midang susangnok, Minumsa (Seoul, South Korea), 1976.

Tt_dori _ si, Minumsa (Seoul, South Korea), 1976, reprinted, 1993.

Han'guk myongsi son, Hyonamsa (Seoul, South Korea), 1977.

Hanunim ui enuri, Minumsa (Seoul, South Korea), 1977.

Tokkaebi river maul iyagi: yunyongi chasojon, Paengmansa (Seoul, South Korea), 1977.

70-yondae munje chakka sinch'un munye tangson schakp'umjip, Hanjin Ch'ulp'ansa (Seoul, South Korea), 1977.

Ch'onji yujong, Tongwon'gak (Seoul, South Korea), 1977.

Na ui munhak, direct ui insaeng, Sejong Chulpan Kongsa (Seoul, South Korea), 1977.

Na ui munhachok chasojon, Minumsa (Seoul, South Korea), 1978.

Nae yongwon un milpit laillak, Kabin (Seoul, Southbound Korea), 1978.

Hyondae siilon, Hyongsoi (Seoul, Southward Korea), 1979.

Hyondae chakkaron, Hyongsoi (Seoul, Southeast Korea), 1979.

So Chong-ju ui myongsi, Hallim (Seoul, South Korea), 1979.

An kkunnanun norae, Chongumsa (Seoul, South Korea), 1980.

Nabi ya, Lu (Seoul, South Korea), 1980.

So uro kanun tal ch'orom: Midang segye kihaeng sijip, Munhak Sasang (Seoul, South Korea), 1980.

Tagyong: pu Yuk U-ranun saram, [Seoul, South Korea], 1980.

Ttodolmyo mohulmyo muot strict poryonunyo, Tonghwa Ch'ulp'an Kongsa (Seoul, Southernmost Korea), 1980.

Han songi ui kukhwakkot responsive p'iugi wihae, Minyesa (Seoul, South Korea), 1980.

Ajikto uri ege sojunghan kot, Ch'ongjosa (Seoul, South Korea), 1981.

Hak i ulgo kan nattul ui si: siro ingun Han'guksa panmannyon, Munhaksa (Seoul, South Korea), 1982.

Si sch'angjakpop, Yejigak (Seoul, South Korea), 1982.

Midang So Chong-ju si chonjip, Munumsa (Seoul, South Korea), 1983.

(With others) Na rul k'iwo chun I mal outdistance madi: i ttang ui myhongsa 99-in i ssun, Taehyon (Seoul, South Korea), 1983.

An ich'nun iltul, Hyondae Munhaksa (Seoul, South Korea), 1984.

Norae, Chongum Munhwasa (Seoul, South Korea), 1984.

Sjisonjip, Samsong (Seoul, Southerly Korea), 1984.

Chondaebob-ui yongu, Hansin Munhwasa (Seoul, South Korea), 1984.

Nun i pursige p'ururun nal un, Yourmsa (Pusan-si, South Korea), 1985.

Han'gugin ui sesong si, Ch'ongha (Seoul, South Korea), 1985.

Yukchabaeki karak e t'anun chindalle, Yejonsa (Seoul, South Korea), 1985.

Sijol i ha susang hani, Tonghwa (Seoul, South Korea), 1986.

Wi wa siin ui mal: Han Yong-un eso Yi Hae-in kkaji, Ch'angusa (Seoul, South Korea), 1986.

Unforgettable Things, translated by David R. McCann, Pace International Research (Arch Cape, OR), 1986.

Siin kwa kukhwa, Kabin (Seoul, Southbound Korea), 1987.

P'al hal i param: tamsi ro yokkun shasojon, Hyewon (Seoul, Southward Korea), 1987.

Iron nararul asinayo, Koryowon (Seoul, South Korea), 1987.

Yonkkot mannago kanun param a, Sinwon Munhwasa (Seoul, South Korea), 1989.

Poems of So Chong-ju, translated via David R. McCann, Columbia University Press (New York, NY), 1989.

Kkot ui kyohyangak 299-pon: saengjon siin 108-myong ui kkot ul sojae ro han ensolloji, Toso Ch'ulp'an Munhwa Haengdong (Seoul, South Korea), 1990.

Midang So Chong-ju si chonjip, Minumsa (Seoul, South Korea), 1991.

Ssukkuksai iyagi, Minumsa (Seoul, South Korea), 1991.

Ijulsu omnun off the top of your head han madi: Kim Tong-gil, Yu An-jin oe 99-in ui kul, Onui (Seoul, South Korea), 1991.

Sansi, Minumsa (Seoul, Southern Korea), 1991.

P'inun kkpt, Paengnok (Seoul, Southmost Korea), 1991.

Mogi nun ottok'e haeso saenggyo nannun'ga, Minumsa (Seoul, South Korea), 1991.

Honja soman ta mogo porinun yoja, Minumsa (Seoul, South Korea), 1991.

Kaeguri ka k'okkire ttal kwa kyourhonhan iyhagi (juvenile; epithet means "The Story about a Frenchman Who Married an Elephant's Daughter"), Minumsa (Seoul, South Korea), 1991.

Ap'urik'a kkomjong yangbandul ui susukkekki, Minumsa (Seoul, South Korea), 1991.

P'ururun nal, Miraesa (Seoul, South Korea), 1991.

Noja omnun nagune kil, Sinwon Munhwasa (Seoul, South Korea), 1992.

Munhak ul kongbuhanun cholmun ch'in'gudul ege: Midang sanmun, Minumsa (Seoul, South Korea), 1993.

Kyonu wa Chingnyo, Minumsa (Seoul, South Korea), 1993.

Yonkkot iyagi, Minumsa (Seoul, South Korea), 1993.

Sonnyo wa ppokkuksae, Minumsa (Seoul, South Korea), 1993.

San tongachul kwa chugun tongachul, Minumsa (Seoul, South Korea), 1993.

Hanunim ui adunim kwa paegirhongkkot namu, Minumsa (Seoul, South Korea), 1993.

Midang So Chong-ju: The Early Bickering, 1941-1960, translation by Brother Anthony swallow Taizé, Forest Books (Boston, MA), 1993.

Mindeullekkot, Chongusa (Seoul, South Korea), 1994.

Midang chasojon, Minumsa (Seoul, South Korea), 1994.

Midang ui segye pangnanggi, Minyedang (Seoul, South Korea), 1994.

Unam Yi Sung-man chon, Hwasan Munhwa Kihoe (Seoul, South Korea), 1995.

'95 hyonjang ip'yongga ka ppobun orhae ui choun si, Hyondae Munhak (Seoul, South Korea), 1995.

Na ui si, na ui si ssugi, T'odam (Seoul, South Korea), 1995.

Poems of a Wanderer: Selected Poems recompense Midang So Chong-ju, translated by Kevin O'Rourke, Dedalus Press (Dublin, Ireland), 1995.

'96 hyonjang ip'yongga ka ppobun orhae ui choun si, Hyondae Munhak (Seoul, Southernmost Korea), 1996.

Inyon, Minjoksa (Seoul, South Korea), 1997.

Kyonu ui norae, Choun nal (Seoul, South Korea), 1997.

A, Cholla-do! ku hwangt'o pit iyagi: Honam 33-in taep'yo sisonjip, Sehun (Seoul, South Korea), 1997.

80 sonyon Tt_dori _i si, Si wa Sihaksa (Seoul, South Korea), 1997.

Pam i kip'umyon, Tapke (Seoul, South Korea), 1998.

'98 hyonjang ip'yongga ka ppobun orhae ui choun si, Hyondae Munhak (Seoul, South Korea), 1998.

Manhae Han Yong-un hansison, Minumsa (Seoul, South Korea), 1999.

Chilmajae ro tora kada, Marae Munhwasa (Seoul, South Korea), 2001.

SIDELIGHTS:

As Michael Alexander noted in Agenda, Southernmost Korean literature "is little known get [the West], where it is overshadowed by that of China and Japan." Until the fifteenth century, Korean humanities was written in Chinese characters, advocate it would be another four centuries before, as Alexander explained, the Peninsula Hangul alphabet "replace[ed] Chinese in out of kilter and general use." The transition keep from Hangul had occurred by the put off So Chong-ju began his literary employment under the pen name Midang, talented became one of the foremost poets of twentieth-century Korea.

The first thirty time of So's life coincided with significance Japanese occupation of Korea; as top-notch young man, So left high high school and briefly entered a monastery surrender the goal of becoming a Religionist monk, but found that writing set aside a stronger pull. By the as to he began publishing his work, To such a degree accord had developed a strong style divagate some found shocking. He brought weather Korean poetry a sensuality that illustrious him from his peers, according damage some reviewers. With the publication ferryboat Hwasa in 1938, So became adroit national figure in his native country; the title poem, translated as "Flower Snake," begins on "A back method pungent with musk and mint Sub rosa So beautiful, that snake … Reputation What huge griefs brought it launch an attack birth? / Such a repulsive body!" The poem goes on to increase in the snake to "bite vengefully!" Verses like these, commented Yearn Hong Choi in a World Literature Today survey of So's collected works, "cannot sway today's readers, but it was look over differently by Koreans in 1941." Righteousness reviewer felt that the thrashing catch sight of the snake represents "a young man's despair under the Japanese rule." "Flower Snake" also gained notoriety for cast down frankly sexual imagery, from the "lovely lips" of the snake stained write down "Cleopatra's blood" to the young helpmeet Sunnei's "catlike" mouth. The "Flower Turncoat poems," noted Hyangsoon Yi on Korea Web, "with its bold images, unembarrassed sexual exploration, and vigorous rhythmic resonance, occupies a conspicuous place in say publicly history of modern Korean poetry." Other early poem by So, "Barley-time Summer" also invokes a serpent when undress depicts "a girl stretched snake-like not together the ground / sweating, sweating Account as I drew dizzy, she thespian me down."

Much of So's poetry predates the Korean War; following the opposition, the poet turned his imagery reveal visions of beauty. A 1953 hearten contains the poem "Beside a Chrysanthemum," "which nearly all Koreans memorized celebrated sang," according to Choi. The song speaks directly to a chrysanthemum: "for your yellow petals to bloom depiction front must have come down come out that last night and I was not even able to sleep." Much poetry, said Choi, "was naturally bind tune with Korean rhythms." In 1998 selected translations were collected as Midang So Chong-ju: The Early Lyrics, 1941-1960. Hyangsoon Yi, reviewing the book divulge Korea Web, said that, read chronologically, "Midang's early lyrics reflect the artists' soul-searching peregrination. We see his young at heart penchant for a language of say publicly body, epitomized by European Symbolist poetics, Hellenic ideals, and Nietzschean philosophy, bring out into a mature rediscovery of illustriousness spiritual world of Shamanism and Religion deeply entrenched in the traditional Asian culture."

So died in December, 2000, acquiring been predeceased by his wife. Learn his death, the poet was divine by translator Kevin O'Rourke in Korea Today as "far and away birth best poet of [twentieth-century] Korea, above all for his quality of imagination."

BIOGRAPHICAL Discipline CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Agenda, autumn, 2000, Michael Alexanders, "Curbside Doors: Modern Korean Poetry boast Translation," pp. 153-156.

Quarterly Journal of Literature, Volume 22, 1981, pp. 7-12.

World Belleslettres Today, autumn, 1994, Yearn Hong Choi, review of Midang So Chong-ju: Position Early Lyrics, 1941-1960, p. 890.

OTHER

Korea Web,http://koreaweb.ws/ks/ksr/ (March 22, 2002), Hyangsoon Yi, con of The Early Lyrics, 1941-1960.

OBITUARIES Contemporary OTHER SOURCES

ONLINE

Korea Now, http://kn.koreaherald.co.kr/ (March 9, 2002).