Choe Inho facts for kids

Choe Inho (Hangul: 최인호) was a famous writer from South Korea. He was born on October 17, 1945, and passed away on September 25, 2013. Choe Inho wrote many popular stories and novels during his life.

About Choe Inho's Life

Choe Inho was born in Seoul, the capital city of South Korea. He studied English Literature at Yonsei University. In 1967, he started his writing career. His short story “Patient Apprentice” (Gyeonseup Hwanja) won a prize in a special writing contest. This contest was called the New Spring Literary Contest. It was held by a newspaper named The Chosun Ilbo.

When he was 43 years old, Choe Inho became a Catholic. He also explored other beliefs, like Buddhism, in his book Road Without Road. Besides writing, Choe Inho also taught at Yonsei University and Catholic University of Korea. He died at the age of 68 from cancer.

Choe Inho's Stories and Books

Choe Inho began writing when he was just 17 years old in 1963. He was very good at it. One of his early stories, “A Stranger’s Room” (타인의 방), was written very quickly for a magazine.

Some of his first stories became well-known. They won awards in writing contests held by newspapers like The Hanguk Ilbo and The Chosun Ilbo. His early works often showed how society was changing quickly in Korea. He wrote about how people were affected by new ways of buying things. He showed how this could sometimes make people feel less human.

In the mid-1970s, Choe Inho wrote about people feeling alone or disconnected. His book "Deep Blue Night" tells the story of two Koreans traveling in California. This book won a very important award in Korea called the Yi Sang Literary Award in 1982. This book was later translated into English.

Many of Choe Inho's books were made into popular TV shows. For example, The Merchant of Joseon (Sangdo) was shown on MBC in 2001. Also, Emperor of The Sea (Haeshin) was shown on KBS in 2004. These TV shows were popular in Korea and in other countries too.

Awards Choe Inho Won

Choe Inho received several important awards for his writing.

• In 1982, his book "Deep Blue Night" won the famous Yi Sang Literary Award.
• He also won the 1972 Contemporary Literature (Hyundae Munhak) Award.

Choe Inho's Works in Other Languages

Many of Choe Inho's stories and books have been translated so people in other countries can read them.

English Translations

• "Deep Blue Night," published by Jimoondang Press (2008)
• "Tower of Ants," published by Hollym International Corporation (2004)
• "Another Man's Room," found in Modern Korean Fiction an Anthology

German Translations

• Koreanische Literatur Band 3 detail (한국문학 사화집 제3권 -전후 중단편선)
• Schriftenreihe des Instituts für Koreanische Kultur. 1984/5 detail (<한>誌 (84.5월호) - 한국문학특집호)
• Schriftenreihe des Instituts für Koreanische Kultur. 1984/7 detail (<한>誌 (84.7월호) - 한국문학특집호)

Japanese Translations

• 他人の部屋 detail (타인의 방)
• 夢遊桃源図 detail (몽유도원도)

Polish Translations

• Maski detail (가면무도회)

French Translations

• Une nuit bleue et profonde (깊고 푸른 밤)

See also

In Spanish: Choi In-ho para niños