Bereaved Families, Literary Monument Construction Committee Members, Novelist Jo Jung-rae, Poet Jeong Ho-seung, and Many Others Attend -
Youngest Recipient of the Yi Sang Literary Award and Danjae Academic Award, Pledging to Inherit and Develop Regional Cultural Heritage
[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seon-sik] On December 9th at 2 p.m., Gwangyang City in Jeonnam held the ‘Unveiling Ceremony of the Literary Monument for Writer Lee Gyun-young, Whom Heaven Envied, and the Commemoration Ceremony for the Creation of the Literary Hill’ at the Lee Gyun-young Literary Hill in Usan Park, Gwangyang-eup.
The ‘Lee Gyun-young Literary Monument and Literary Hill,’ created near his birthplace, was completed in November 2020 after the formation of the ‘Lee Gyun-young Literary Monument Construction Promotion Committee’ by local literary figures and various community sectors in 2018. However, the unveiling ceremony was postponed for two years due to COVID-19.
About 200 people attended the unveiling ceremony, including Lee Gyun-young’s mother, son, younger brother, older sister, bereaved family members, sponsor CEO Hwang Jae-woo, members of the Lee Gyun-young Literary Monument Construction Promotion Committee, novelists Jo Jung-rae and Park Hye-gang, poet Jeong Ho-seung, Gwangyang Federation of Literary Artists, the Cultural Center, related organizations, and interested citizens.
The commemoration ceremony proceeded with an introduction of Lee Gyun-young’s biography, a report on the project progress, presentation of appreciation plaques, commemorative and congratulatory speeches, a thank-you speech from the family representative, a reading of a tribute poem, a special introduction of encounters with Lee Gyun-young, an introduction and unveiling of the literary monument, followed by a visit to Lee Gyun-young’s birthplace located nearby.
Mayor Jeong In-hwa of Gwangyang presented a plaque of appreciation to Hwang Jae-woo, CEO of a Gwangyang company, who served as a catalyst by sponsoring the construction of the literary monument and creating the literary hill, thereby establishing a new milestone for Gwangyang’s cultural heritage.
Jeong Eun-joo of the Gwangyang Writers’ Association read a tribute poem commemorating and honoring the great literary achievements of Lee Gyun-young, a pride of Gwangyang, expressing longing for the late writer who passed away early.
Lee In-young, Lee Gyun-young’s younger brother, expressed gratitude on behalf of the family to Gwangyang City for creating a space to remember and honor the late writer’s contributions to the literary and academic communities.
Notably, novelist Jo Jung-rae, born in Suncheon and a devoted admirer of the late writer, and poet Jeong Ho-seung, from Hadong who had connections with Jeong Chae-bong and Lee Gyun-young, attended the ceremony as special guests. They introduced their special encounters with Lee Gyun-young and took time to honor his achievements.
Before the unveiling ceremony, novelist Park Hye-gang expressed regret over the unfulfilled potential of Lee Gyun-young and introduced a personally written sponsorship message for the literary monument.
Mayor Jeong In-hwa of Gwangyang said, “I consider it very meaningful to have a place to commemorate and honor the literary and historical spirit left by the late writer Lee Gyun-young,” adding, “Through this commemoration, Gwangyang City will do its best to inherit and develop the noble will and spirit of the late writer as part of the local cultural heritage.”
Meanwhile, Lee Gyun-young, born in 1951 in Usan-ri, Gwangyang-eup, was a novelist and historian who attracted great attention as a genius writer through various writing activities but tragically passed away at the age of 45 in 1996 due to an unexpected traffic accident.
Lee Gyun-young debuted in 1977 by winning the Dong-A Ilbo New Spring Literary Contest with his short story “Wind and City,” became the youngest recipient of the 8th Yi Sang Literary Award with “Beyond the Dark Memories,” and in 1994 won the Danjae Award in the academic category for “Research on the Singanhoe,” gaining recognition in both the domestic literary and historical academic fields.
Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seon-sik hss79@asiae.co.kr
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