People's Poet Shin Kyung-rim's Funeral Ceremony: "Forever Farewell with the Heart of an Orphan of Poetry"

"With the feeling of becoming orphans of poetry, we have come together to bid a final farewell to poet Shin Kyung-rim."

On the evening of the 24th, the farewell ceremony for Korea's representative people's poet, the late Shin Kyung-rim, was held at Seoul National University Hospital Funeral Hall in Jongno-gu, Seoul, with about 200 attendees, lasting just over an hour.

Memorial Service for the Late Poet Shin Kyung-rim
(Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Han Sang-gyun = On the 24th, at the funeral hall of Seoul National University Hospital, Assemblyman Do Jong-hwan is introducing the late poet's biography at the memorial service for the late poet Shin Kyung-rim. 2024.5.24
xyz@yna.co.kr
(End)


＜Copyright(c) Yonhap News Agency, unauthorized reproduction and redistribution, AI training and use prohibited＞

The ceremony was conducted as a national literary funeral with participation from literary organizations such as the Korean Poets Association and the Korean Writers Association. Poet Do Jong-hwan (Member of the National Assembly), who introduced the poet's biography, expressed sorrow, saying it felt like "becoming orphans of poetry."

Yeom Mu-woong, a senior literary critic and the funeral committee chairman, said in his eulogy, "Even after becoming a renowned poet, the late poet did not like to act like a celebrity. He often portrayed his imperfect self more than his admirable side in his poetry. Readers found solace and courage by seeing their hidden self-portraits in his works."

Moon Jung-hee, director of the National Korean Literature Museum (and poet), emphasized in her tribute, "It is said that a poet dies when their poetry disappears from the earth after their death. The late poet’s poetry will never disappear and will live on for a long time."

Colleagues and junior writers also recited condolence poems.

Poet Lee Geun-bae (former chairman of the National Academy of Arts of Korea) read a condolence poem titled "A Poor Love Song That Lifted an Era, Spread Across the Whole World."

Poet Jung Hee-sung quietly recited from his poem "Poet Shin Kyung-rim Has Passed Away": "The teacher treated the imperfect me like a friend / The imperfect ones find joy just by seeing each other's faces / When asked about worldly matters, he would answer with a slight wave of his hand / The teacher grew old alone like a sad camel."

When a video interview with the late poet was shown, many attendees were seen with reddened eyes.

"I want to write bright poetry... It is important that we ourselves create a bright world. Only when the world is bright can bright poetry emerge."

For the late poet, who enjoyed singing during his lifetime, junior artists prepared songs set to his poems. Members of the people's song group "Minyo Research Society," including singer Jung Tae-chun, performed a song composed to the poem "I Will Return," honoring the late poet together.

Among those attending the farewell ceremony were cultural figures such as Professor Emeritus Baek Nak-cheong of Seoul National University (former editor of Changbi) and former Cultural Heritage Administration head Yoo Hong-jun, as well as some political figures including Park Chan-dae, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea.

Floor leader Park expressed condolences, saying, "The teacher’s poetry was always directed toward people and accompanied the times. In an era where elders are rare, it is sad and regrettable to lose such a kind elder."

The late poet is scheduled to be laid to rest at his hometown family burial site in Chungju, Chungbuk, following the funeral procession at 5:30 a.m. on the 25th.

Publisher Changbi is also considering publishing a posthumous poetry collection by gathering the late poet’s unpublished poems in consultation with the bereaved family.

Changbi has a deep connection with the poet, having published his first poetry collection "Nongmu" in 1975 and his last collection "Second Floor of the Photo Studio" (2014).

However, a Changbi representative stated, "The poet’s next work had already been on the publication schedule for several years," adding, "Publishing a posthumous collection requires internal review and consultation with the family."