The First Anniversary of Intellectual Lee O-ryeong's Passing... "He Drifted Away but Then Returned"

Director Kang Insuk of Yeongin Literature Museum Organizes Special Exhibition for the 1st Anniversary of Lee Eoryeong
Annual Spring Exhibitions on Lee Eoryeong Planned at Yeongin Literature Museum

"For six months, it kept feeling distant, but gradually it came back. When I was worried in the past, saying '(my late) mother is being forgotten,' my husband said, 'Don't worry. She will come back,' and it really was like that."

This was a confession revealed by Kang In-suk (90), director of the Youngin Literature Museum, on the first anniversary of the late Lee O-ryeong, the inaugural Minister of Culture. It has already been a year since she lost her husband, with whom she had spent over half a century. To mark the first anniversary, a special exhibition titled "The Preface of Lee O-ryeong" was prepared in collaboration with the National Library of Korea, showcasing the personal belongings her husband used during his lifetime and the 185 books he authored alone.

The study of Lee O-ryeong revealed in the special exhibition "The Preface of Lee O-ryeong."
[Photo by Seo Mideum]

The late's desk, bag, glasses, writing instruments, and other items were displayed on the exhibition stands. At the press preview held on the 24th at the National Library of Korea, Director Kang, standing before reporters, smiled and said, "Honestly, I didn't want to exhibit the collection, but I thought the teacher (my husband) was here too, so I decided to show them."

The late was a proud figure to Director Kang. "The person I wanted to give the best to." When asked about the moment he was most proud of his husband, she pointed to the critical essay collection Literature of Resistance. The essay collection was published in 1959, the year after their marriage. Director Kang said, "In the 1950s, there were no collections of criticism. Criticism itself was rare," adding, "He was that dedicated."

Director Kang Insuk of Yeongin Literature Museum talking with reporters.
Photo by Seo Mideum

One of the late's handwritten manuscripts was also revealed. According to Director Kang, he insisted on using a fountain pen when writing and always used a yellow pen to underline or mark, explaining, "He said that way the marks wouldn't show when copying or printing." She added that she began collecting her husband's handwritten manuscripts after their children grew up somewhat, but since he started using computer word processors from 1987, there are not many handwritten manuscripts.

Former Minister Lee, who used seven computers regularly to convert his thoughts into data and save them, was found by the bereaved family to have 8 terabytes (TB, 1,024 GB) of data on his computers after his passing. Director Kang said, "There is so much data that it's impossible to check what's on the computers," and added, "I think we need to invite scholars from various fields to organize the materials."

Starting this fall, the former minister's study will be opened to the public. Director Kang said, "We plan to hold exhibitions on various themes every spring," and explained, "The table of contents of Literature and Thought would be a good exhibition theme."

Director Kang mentioned that the former minister particularly liked "new things." While she herself tends not to change things easily, her husband liked new things, which made their relationship harmonious. She said, "Especially with computers, he replaced them as soon as new ones came out," and laughed, "I think I have survived without being discarded."

At the opening ceremony of the special memorial exhibition for the first anniversary of the late Lee O-ryeong, "The Preface of Lee O-ryeong," Park Bo-gyun, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, delivered a congratulatory speech.
Photo by National Library of Korea

On this day, a memorial service and opening ceremony were held at the National Library of Korea, organized by the bereaved family. About 150 cultural figures filled the venue, and Park Bo-gyun, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, delivered a congratulatory speech.