Poet Kang Hyunkook Publishes New Poetry Collection "Progress Report"... A Record of Existence Written Barefoot

From the Foot of Gubyeongsan Mountain,
Through Jinbatgol,
The Poet's Footsteps Reach the Readers

Veteran Korean poet Kang Hyunkook has published a new poetry collection titled "Progress Report" (published by Siwa Bansi).

Poet Kang, born in 1949 in Sangju, Gyeongbuk, debuted in 1976 with and has balanced education and literature while serving as president of Daegu National University of Education.

This collection is inspired by the poet's long-practiced habit of "walking barefoot," and unfolds a profound reflection on nature, life, and existence through poetic language.

As seen in the lines, "Erasing the path / Walking the trail that the thin blanket could not fully cover / I follow my own bare feet," "Progress Report" captures the journey from physical walking to philosophical walking. The poet's footsteps, which began beneath Gubyeongsan Mountain, pass through Jinbatgol and now continue into the hearts of readers.

This collection features numerous works that delicately capture sensory landscapes, fractures within daily life, the warmth of old age, and the essence of existence.

The weight and lingering resonance embedded in seemingly simple language fully reveal the poet’s long contemplation and literary depth. Kang Hyunkook remarked that the "sound of childhood footsteps" has finally arrived, presenting this collection as the "poetic report" of his life.

Poet Lee Haseok, who wrote the epilogue for the collection, commented, "Kang Hyunkook’s poetry does not offer kindness to the reader, but even within its direct language and twisted metaphors, it never loses sight of its subject."

He added that "the cold force hidden behind simple expressions makes the poetry linger in the mind for a long time."

Kang Hyunkook, born in 1949 in Sangju, Gyeongbuk, debuted in 1976 with and has served as president of Daegu National University of Education.

Notably, in 1992, he founded "Siwa Bansi," Daegu’s first quarterly magazine dedicated to poetry, playing a significant role in expanding the horizons of regional literature. Some in the literary community regard him as a "modernist outsider" in Korean poetry, recognizing him as a writer who embodies both experimentation and tradition.