Expanding from a 70,000-Member Golf Community to Literature... Hwang Jincheol Publishes His First Poetry Collection

A Collection of 46 Poems Embracing Life, Connections, and Healing in Jeju
Publication Celebration for "Happy with Love"

Cover of Hwang Jincheol's first poetry collection, "Happy with Love," capturing his journey of life, connections, and healing in Jeju.

Poet Hwang Jincheol has officially published his first poetry collection, "Happy with Love," which captures his journey of life, connections, and healing in Jeju. The publication celebration will be held at 6 p.m. on December 1 at the Amorex Hotel in Jeju.

This collection presents 46 poems and essays that reflect on the changes and self-examination experienced over eight years since moving to Jeju, his community activities in the 70,000-member golf community 'Jejeband,' memories of family and youth, and the new world that opened up through hosting the 'Ironman Golf' event. His life motto, "Our Connection Starts Now," runs throughout the book, delivering a profound resonance.

The publication celebration will be held together with the Jejeband year-end gathering and will feature a congratulatory performance by singer Kim Taehwa and an author signing event, all designed to foster communication. Hwang stated, "This collection was not written simply for the sake of poetry, but as a record of unraveling the knots in my heart while looking back on my life."

Jejeband has grown beyond a simple golf group to become a social network in its own right.

In 2022, Jejeband, together with The Asia Business Daily Honam Bureau, hosted and organized the 'Ironman Golf' event, where 47 participants successfully completed 198 holes over three days, setting an official record with the Korea Record Institute (KRI) for the "Most Participants, Most Holes, and Longest Duration Golf Marathon Team Category." During the same period, a general participant tournament saw a total of 441 teams and about 1,700 people play 18 holes each, drawing significant attention.

The following year, in 2023, Jejeband co-hosted a tournament with the Korea Mid-Amateur Golf Federation, successfully holding an official event featuring three rounds and 54 holes in a single day. This event was recognized as a leading golf event in Korea.

The experience of leading a large community of over 70,000 members has brought new perspectives and emotions to Hwang's poetry.

This collection features numerous works that explore connection, solidarity, and the joy of growing together within a community.

Born in Yeosu in 1960, Hwang was recognized for his literary talent during his time at Yeosu High School, receiving the school's literary award and the top social studies award.

In 2017, he faced a major challenge when diagnosed with stage 3B colon cancer at Samsung Medical Center in Seoul. After seven months of chemotherapy, he moved to Jeju to rebuild his life. This process opened the door to his "second life" and gave him the strength to write again.

The poetry collection "Happy with Love" has been praised for its honest portrayal of the healing process in Jeju, gratitude toward parents and family, traces of youth, and the connections and comfort provided by the community. The publication event is attracting great interest not only from the Jeju literary scene but also from golf and cultural communities, and the collection is available for purchase both at the event and online.

Hwang Jincheol said, "Each day feels like a gift amid the winds and connections of Jeju," adding, "I hope this collection offers someone a bit of comfort and courage."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.