Lee O Young (1934 – 2022) was a South Korean critic and novelist.
1. Life
Lee O Young was born on 15 January 1934, in Asan, South Chungcheong Province. Lee went to Buyeo High School and Seoul National University, where he studied Korean literature. His first piece of literary criticism was published in the magazine of Seoul National University's humanities department in 1955, while he was still an undergraduate, "Yisangnon: sunsuuisigui noeokgwa geu pabyeok" (이상론 - 순수의식의 뇌옥과 그 파벽 On Yi Sang: The Prison of Pure Consciousness and Its Destruction). He made his formal debut as a critic in 1956, publishing "Biyubeomnongo" (비유법논고 A Treatise on Metaphor) in the journal Munhagyesul.
Lee taught at Ewha Womans University, where he was a professor emeritus, and Dankook University. He was also editor-in-chief of the monthly Literature & Thought and Korea's first Minister of Culture at the time of the 1988 Olympic Games.
Lee died from cancer on 26 February 2022, at the age of 88.
2. Writing
Lee was one of the most prominent figures to emerge from the post-war generation of Korean critics. Making his mark with his first piece of literary criticism, "Yisangnon: sunsuuisigui noeokgwa geu pabyeok," he caused a stir in literary circles with his next essay, "Usangui pagoe" (우상의 파괴 Destroying Idols), published in the Hankook Ilbo in 1956. In the essay, he tore down literary greats such as Kim Dong-ni, Cho Hyang, Lee Mu-young, and Choi Il-su, and sharply criticized Hwang Sun-Won, Cho Yeon-hyeon, Yom Sang-seop, and So Chong-ju. At a time when the war experience seemed to have devastated the literary imagination as well, Lee argued for the expansion and enrichment of Korean literature in articles that featured considerable rhetorical sophistication and verve.
In 1961, Lee began his career in journalism writing editorials for the Seoul Shinmun. He became a prolific columnist and essayist, writing for such papers as the Hankook Ilbo, the Kyunghyang Shinmun, the JoongAng Ilbo, and the Chosun Ilbo. In particular, his column "Heung soge jeo baram soge" (흙 속에 저 바람 속에 In This Earth & In That Wind), which ran in the Kyunghyang Shinmun over a period of four months, became a touchstone for the generation. The resulting book sold over 30,0000 copies, and was later translated into English by the historian David I. Steinberg.
The translator's preface to the book offers insight into typical characteristics of Lee's writing: "These essays do not attempt to be definitive and should not be so interpreted. They are not supported by social science data which can be verified. They were written in a conversational style of Korean, rather informally. Yet each one offers to the reader some new concept, a different perspective, a penetrating idea which can be the subject of reflection. These essays are thus in a sense poetical—they are composed of insights and glimpses beyond reality on which the reader will be able to expand and through which he may wish to reconsider the nature of his experience in Korea. The essays therefore are often controversial. If they were not, they would have little value. The ideas presented are points of view from which further discussion will naturally be evoked."[1]
Reference
[1] Translator’s preface. p.viii. Lee, O-Young. In This Earth & in That Wind: This Is Korea. Translated by David I. Steinberg, Seoul, Korea, Published for RAS-KB by Seoul Computer Press, 1967.
