Passed Away at 91
June 17, Farewell
Poet Minyoung, who gave voice to the pain of modern Korean history through works such as "Eongeongkwi Flower," "Cheorwon Peace," and "I Will Dance," has passed away, the Korean Writers' Association announced on June 17. He was 91 years old.
Born in Cheorwon, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, Minyoung moved to Manchuria with his family and grew up there. He left Myungshin Elementary School in Herong County, Jiandao Province, after the fifth grade and continued his studies independently. In 1959, he began his literary career after being recommended by the magazine "Hyundae Munhak."
His body of work is recognized for embracing the pain of national division and the era, and for infusing the vitality of traditional folk songs into contemporary poetry. He beautifully captured the everyday lyricism of life, singing of the daily lives of ordinary people, the joys and sorrows of local existence, their deep-seated grief, and an optimistic spirit.
Minyoung was also active in social and cultural circles. He served as an advisor to the Korean Writers' Association and as president of the Folk Song Research Society, among other roles. He received the Korean Critics' Association Literary Award in 1983 and the Manhae Literary Award in 1991. His poetry collection "On a Windy Day," which won the Manhae Literary Award, was praised for "achieving poetic accomplishment that encompasses both personal and national history through the poet's continuous self-reflection, never losing a sense of tension within a graceful form."
The funeral hall has been set up at the memorial center of Sahmyook Seoul Hospital, and the funeral will be held with literary honors. He is survived by his children Min Hyunbin, Min Kyungbin, and Min Youngbin. The funeral procession will take place at 8 a.m. on June 19, and the burial will be at Yongin Park Cemetery.
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