Cho Hae-il facts for kids

Cho Hae-il (born Cho Hae-ryong on April 18, 1941 – died June 19, 2020) was an important writer from South Korea. He wrote many stories and novels that became very popular.

Life Story

Cho Hae-il was born on April 18, 1941, in a place called Manchukuo. His first name was Haeryong, which means "Sea Dragon." After Korea became free from Japanese rule, his family moved back to Seoul.

Five years later, the Korean War began. His family had to leave Seoul and became refugees, moving to Busan. They returned to Seoul in 1954 after the war ended.

Cho went to Posung High School. He admitted that he wasn't the best student there. However, he joined the creative writing club, which was a big step for him. In 1960, he saw the April Revolution, a student protest that changed South Korea. He felt proud of what others achieved but also a bit sad he didn't join in.

In 1961, he started studying Korean literature at Kyunghee University. There, he met Hwang Sunwon, a famous older writer. After graduating in 1966, Cho completed his mandatory military service. Once he finished, he began his career as a writer. Later, in the late 1980s, he started teaching creative writing at Kyunghee University. He got married in 1972 and had one son.

His Writings

Cho Hae-il started his writing career with a story called The Man Who Dies Every Day. This story won first prize in a writing contest in 1970. In the next few years, he wrote a lot! He published at least twelve short stories and a longer story called America by 1974.

In 1976, Cho published The Winter Woman. This book became a huge success and made him a very popular writer. Even though he became famous, he felt he didn't really deserve all the attention. From 1974 to 1986, Cho kept writing steadily. He wrote both short stories and longer stories that appeared in newspapers.

Cho's stories often looked at the struggles of people and societies. For example, his story America (written in English) showed how a man and his community were changed by the presence of U.S. troops in South Korea. Another story, The Iron Mask, was about a couple who were attacked. His story The Psychologists explored how violence can happen in a small space like a bus.

Main Works

• Kyŏul yŏja (1975) - appeared in The Chosun Ilbo newspaper
• Uyoil (1977) - a collection of stories
• Jibongwiui namja (1979) - appeared in the Seoul Shinmun newspaper
• Eksŭ (1982) - appeared in The Dong-a Ilbo newspaper
• Kalsu ŏmnŭn nara (1984) - appeared in JoongAng Ilbo newspaper
• Im Kkŏk-chŏng e kwanhan ilgopkae ŭi iyagi (1986)
• Amerikʻa (1990)

Movies and Shows Based on His Books

• Wangshibri (1976)
• Winter Woman (1977), based on his book Kyŏul yŏja
• Jibongwiui namja (1979), based on his book Jibongwiui namja
• Wooyoil (1980), based on his book Uyoil
• X (1983), based on his book Eksu
• PpilKu (1997)

See also

In Spanish: Cho Haeil para niños