Ko Un facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ko Un
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Ko Un in 2011
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| Born | Ko Un-tae August 1, 1933 Gunsan, Zenrahoku-dō, Korea, Empire of Japan |
| Language | Korean |
| Citizenship | South Korean |
| Genre | Poetry |
| Spouse |
Lee Sang-wha
(m. 1983) |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul |
고은
|
| Hanja |
高銀
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| Revised Romanization | Go Eun |
| McCune–Reischauer | Ko Ŭn |
| Birth name | |
| Hangul |
고은태
|
| Hanja |
高銀泰
|
| Revised Romanization | Go Euntae |
| McCune–Reischauer | Ko Ŭnt'ae |
Ko Un (Korean: 고은; born August 1, 1933) is a famous South Korean poet. His poems have been translated into more than fifteen languages. He was known for his strong support of democracy in Korea. Many people even thought he might win the Nobel Prize in Literature.
Contents
Ko Un's Early Life and Challenges
Ko Un, whose birth name was Ko Untae, was born in 1933. He grew up in a farming family in Gunsan, North Jeolla Province. At this time, Korea was under Japanese rule. The Japanese tried to stop Koreans from using their own language and culture. But Ko Un's grandfather taught him to read and write in Korean.
Discovering a Love for Poetry
When Ko Un was 12, he found a book of poems by Han Ha-un. Han Ha-un was a Korean poet who traveled a lot. Ko Un was so inspired by these poems that he started writing his own.
Life During the Korean War
The Korean War began in 1950 when Ko Un was still a teenager. Many of his family and friends died during the war. He was forced to work as a grave digger, which was a very difficult experience. The war caused him a lot of pain. He even poured acid into his ear to try and block out the terrible sounds. This left him deaf in one ear.
Becoming a Monk and Returning to Writing
In 1952, Ko Un decided to become a Buddhist monk. He lived as a monk for ten years. During this time, he published his first book of poems, Otherworld Sensibility (1960). He also wrote his first novel, Cherry Tree in Another World (1961). In 1963, he chose to leave the monk life. He moved to Jeju Province, a faraway island, where he started a charity school. Later, he moved back to Seoul.
Ko Un's Role in the Democracy Movement
A newspaper article changed Ko Un's life in 1970. He read about Jeon Tae-il, a young worker who protested for workers' rights. This event deeply affected Ko Un.
Standing Up for Democracy
In 1972, the South Korean government tried to limit democracy with the Yusin Constitution. Ko Un became very active in the movement for democracy. He worked hard to improve the political situation in Korea. In 1974, he helped create the Association of Writers for Practical Freedom. He also became a leader in other groups that fought for democracy and human rights.
Facing Imprisonment for His Beliefs
Because of his activities, Ko Un was sent to prison three times. He was treated harshly, and one beating in 1979 made his hearing even worse. In 1980, he was accused of serious crimes and sentenced to twenty years in prison. However, he was released in 1982 as part of a general pardon.
A New Chapter in Life
After his release, Ko Un's life became calmer. In 1983, he married Lee Sang-Wha. She was a professor of English Literature. She later helped translate some of his books.
Later Life and International Recognition
Ko Un moved to Anseong, Gyeonggi Province, and focused on his writing. He wrote many books and poems. He also remained active in various organizations. He led the Association of Korean Artists and the Association of Writers for National Literature.
Promoting Peace and Unity
In 1995, he was a delegate in the Committee of National Liberation. In 2000, he visited North Korea as a special guest for the Inter-Korean summit. This visit inspired his book of poems called South and North (2000). He has made many other visits to North Korea since then. He also helps lead a project to create a Pan-Korean Dictionary. This dictionary will include all the different forms of the Korean language spoken in both North and South Korea. In 2014, UNESCO named him a Goodwill Ambassador for Peace.
Traveling the World
Ko Un did not get a passport until 1990. After that, he could travel abroad and represent Korean poetry. He was a visiting scholar at Seoul National University and gave lectures on poetry. He also taught at Dankook University. In 2013, he visited Ca’Foscari University in Venice, Italy. He gave lectures there and received an Honorary Fellowship. When he returned to Korea, he moved to Suwon, south of Seoul.
Continued Writing and Readings
Ko Un has continued to write and share his poetry around the world. He has given readings at international events in Europe, Latin America, and Asia. In 2018, he received the New Golden Age Poetry Prize at a festival in Mexico City.
Ko Un's Important Writings
Ko Un's works include many types of writing, from short poems to long stories.
Epic Poetry Collections
Some of his works are very large, like the seven-volume epic called Paektu Mountain (1987–94). This epic tells the story of the Korean independence movement against Japanese rule. Another huge work is the 30-volume collection called Ten Thousand Lives (Maninbo). Ko Un started writing Maninbo in prison. He had promised that if he survived, he would write a poem for every person he had ever met. He felt a strong connection to those who died in the Korean War. He said, "I have this calling to bring back to life all those who have died….I bear the dead within me still, and they write through me." Maninbo tells stories about people's lives and society. It uses everyday language and has a thoughtful style.
Novels About Spiritual Journeys
Many of Ko Un’s novels are about Seon (Korean Zen) Buddhism and spiritual life.
- The Garland Sutra or Little Pilgrim (1991) is based on an ancient Buddhist text. It follows a boy's training with different Buddhist Masters.
- Son: Two Volumes (1995) tells the history of Buddhist Masters in ancient Korea.
- Mount Sumi (1999) is about the difficulties faced by Buddhists in the 18th century. It also explores how people's past actions connect them in their lives.
Awards and Honors
Ko Un has received many awards for his writing and his work for human rights.
- Korean Literature Prize (1974, 1987)
- Manhae Literary Prize (1989)
- Joongang Literary Prize (1992)
- Daesan Literary Prize (1993)
- Manhae Prize for Poetry (1998)
- Eungwan Order of Cultural Merit (2002)
- Danjae Prize (2004)
- Late Spring Unification Award (2005)
- Bjørnson Prize Order for Literature (2005)
- Cikada Prize (Swedish literary prize for East Asian poets; 2006)
- Yeongrang Poetry Prize (2007)
- Griffin Poetry Prize Lifetime Recognition Award (2008)
- Republic of Korea Arts Award for Literature (2008)
- America Award (2011)
- Golden Wreath of the Struga Poetry Evenings (2014)
- NordSud International Prize for literature (2014)
- New Golden Age Poetry Prize at the Mexico City Poetry Festival (2018)
See also
In Spanish: Ko Un para niños
- Korean literature
- Korean poetry
- Writers Association of Korea
Images for kids
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Ko Un in 2011
