Poet Go Young-min Awarded the 22nd Cheonsangbyeong Poetry Literature Prize

Poet Lee Jeong-seok Wins the 2nd Cheonsangbyeong Dongshim Literary Award

Poet Ko Young-min
Photo by Uijeongbu Cultural Foundation

[Asia Economy Reporter Byunghee Park] The Cheonsangbyeong Poet Memorial Association and the Cheonsangbyeong Poetry Award Steering Committee announced that the winner of the 22nd Cheonsangbyeong Poetry Literary Award is poet Ko Youngmin (50) for his collection Politics of Spring (Changbi 2019).

The Cheonsangbyeong Poetry Award judging committee reviewed poetry collections published between February 2019 and February 2020, targeting poets who have debuted for more than 10 years. About 20 poetry collections were recommended through past Cheonsangbyeong Poetry Award winners and recommendation committee members. From these, six collections were shortlisted through the first preliminary screening, and earlier this month, the final judging committee selected Ko Youngmin’s Politics of Spring (Changbi 2019) as the grand prize winner.

Politics of Spring persistently explores the themes of "death" and "loss." Especially in the lines dealing with the absence (不在) of the mother (father), one can feel the emotional longing alongside a profound contemplation on what it means to "live" one’s own life. The language of the poems is restrained, and the verses are simple. These poetic characteristics align well with the poetic spirit of Cheonsangbyeong, who employed language as "poorly" as possible.

The judges commented, "The poetic attitude that 'poverty is my very life itself (proof of poverty)' is never forgotten, and as a 'country bumpkin' poet with the rustic smell of fire, Ko Youngmin writes poems that make us think about the essence of things. For this reason, all judges unanimously selected Ko Youngmin’s Politics of Spring."

Poet Ko Youngmin said, "This award feels like a question to remind me once again where poetry’s place is and where poetry’s body lies. I intend to prepare so that poetry can come to me anytime. I bow my head in gratitude for receiving the Cheonsangbyeong Poetry Literary Award despite my shortcomings, and I will work harder."

Ko Youngmin was born in 1968 in Seosan, Chungnam, and began his literary career in 2002 with Literary Thought. His poetry collections include Crocodile, Polite Hands, In the Deer Park, and Gugu. He has received the Jirisan Literary Award and the Park Jaesam Literary Award.

The 2nd Cheonsangbyeong Children’s Poetry Award was given to poet Lee Jeongseok’s children’s poetry collection When the Candlelight Rides the Waves (Children’s Literature Criticism 2019).

The Cheonsangbyeong Children’s Poetry Award was newly established last year to expand the scope of the Cheonsangbyeong Arts Festival, honor Cheonsangbyeong, who was pure and innocent like a child, and add meaning to the creative work of children’s poets.

The Cheonsangbyeong Children’s Poetry Award judging committee stated, "The award targeted poets who have debuted for more than 10 years among children’s poetry collections published last year. We hope attention will be paid to Lee Jeongseok’s When the Candlelight Rides the Waves, which reflects the poet’s childlike heart that aspires to the life of a refined scholar, savoring it like deeply fragrant tea," explaining the reason for the selection.

Lee Jeongseok was born in Naju, Jeonnam, and has won the Boy’s Joongang Literary Award in the children’s poetry category (1983) and the Children’s Literature Criticism Award in children’s literature criticism (1997). He has published six books including the children’s poetry collection When the Candlelight Rides the Waves and the children’s literature criticism book Characteristics and Techniques of Modern Children’s Poetry. He has received the Bang Jeonghwan Literary Award, the Lee Jaecheol Children’s Literature Criticism Award, and the Jeollanam-do Cultural Award (Literature).

Lee Jeongseok said, "I will continue to travel on the 'beautiful picnic of this world' and wholeheartedly sing to find pure childlike innocence," expressing his thoughts.