“Song Ki-Won is a man of boundaries. A man in whom beauty and ugliness co-exist, one concealing the other, who is intoxicated yet always lucid, fierce yet calm, playful in conflict and conflicted in play. Is that not Song Ki-Won?” (Yoon, Ji-gwan. “Chucheonsa” [“Endorsement”], Byeolbatgongwon [Starry Field Park]. Silcheon Munhak, 2013)

Song Ki-Won is a novelist on a spiritual quest, exploring the realities of ordinary people and their inner lives.

1. Life

Song Ki-Won was born in 1947 and died in 2024. A difficult childhood became the driving force behind his writing, and his poem won the Jeonnam Ilbo New Year’s Literary Contest in 1967. He began his literary career in 1974 with the publication of his poem and short story in Dong-A Ilbo and JoongAng Ilbo. He served in the Vietnam War and supported the democratization movement as a member of the Council of Writers for Freedom (now the Association of Writers for National Literature). He was implicated in the Kim Dae-jung insurrection conspiracy and the Minjung Education censorship cases and was subsequently arrested. Due to war, social movements, and censorship, he only became an active writer in the 1990s. Later, he served as editor-in-chief at Silcheon Munhaksa. On the other hand, he sparked controversy over misogyny in relation to Yeojae Gwanhan Myeongsang (Meditation on Women) and was reported in connection to the Me Too movement. He is regarded as a controversial writer on gender equality.

2. Writing

Song’s fictional world is fundamentally grounded in the lives of ordinary people. In particular, his early work, “Wolmullieseo” (“In Wolmulli”), focuses on agricultural villagers whose lives contrast with those of elites, portraying their wisdom of life. Song not only uses a first-person perspective to reveal the reality of farming villages, but he also emphasizes that the bridge between humans and nature is labor itself. This perspective suggests the possibility of overcoming class divisions. Neoege Gama Naege Ora (Come to Me, I Shall Go to You) is set in the markets and depicts ordinary people pursuing love and hope. Song compellingly argues that life, marked by despair, madness, and violence, does not stem from inevitable fate but from solitude. His writing style is effective in bringing out the beauty behind the grotesque. He blends the world’s pain and the inseparable feeling of self-loathing that accompanies it with “a narrative of spiritual quest.” His distinctive pursuit of selfhood is also evident in his later works, shaped by gukseondo, a Korean Taoist meditative art, and Buddhism. This is reflected in the recently published novel, Sum (Breath), where he portrays the suffering of a father who has lost his daughter through an autobiographical lens, focusing on the father’s inner life.

Reference

Fiction

Hae Tteuneun Jip (A House Where the Sun Rises). Jeonyewon, 1979

Wolhaeng (Walking Under the Moon). Saebyeok, 1979

Dasi Wolmullieseo (In Wolmulli Again). Changjakgwa Bipyeongsa, 1984

Baesoui Kkot (Flower of Exile). Goryeowon, 1990

Daseotgaeui Gyeoulloteu Five Winter Journals). Prunsoop, 1990

Neoege Gama Naege Ora (Come to Me, I Shall Go to You). Hanyang Publishing, 1994

Indoro Gan Yesu (Jesus in India). Changjakgwa Bipyeongsa, 1995

Yeojae Gwanhan Myeongsang (Meditation on Women). Munhakdongne Publishing Corp., 1996

Cheongsan. Changjakgwa Bipyeongsa, 1997

Aneuroui Yeohaeng (A Journey Inward). Munidang, 1999

Tto Hanaui Na (Another Me). Munidang, 2000

Saramui Hyanggi (The Scent of a Person). Changjakgwa Bipyeongsa, 2003

Byeolbatgongwon (Starry Field Park). Silcheon Munhak, 2013

Nuna. Baekjo, 2021

Sum (Breath). Maeumseojae, 2021

Neulgeun Changnyeoui Norae (The Song of an Old Prostitute). Sallim Publishing, 2023

Hangukdaepyojakga 12inseon 1-2 (Selected Works of Twelve Leading Korean Writers, vols. 1-2). JoongAng Ilbo Tongyang Broadcasting Company, 1979 (multiple authors)

79nyeon Munjejakpum 20seonjip (Twenty Selected Controversial Works, 1979). Hanjin Publishing, 1980 (multiple authors)

Urisidaeui Hanguk Munhak (Korean Literature of Our Time). Kyemongsa, 1986 (multiple authors)

Munjejakgamunjejakpum (Controversial Writers, Controversial Works). Osang Publishing, 1987 (multiple authors)

Seobinggoe Pin Kkot (A Bloomed Flower in Seobinggo). Nun Publishing Group, 1990 (multiple authors)

Minjoksoseolseon (A Collection of Fiction on National Identity). Cheongsa, 1990 (multiple authors)

Sumeuneolgulchatgi: Jakgadeuri Sseuneun Jajeonjeok Soseol (Finding Hidden Faces: Autobiographical Fiction by Writers). Segyesa, 1991 (multiple authors)

Seonsaengnimgwa Hamkke Ingneun Uri Soseol (Reading Fiction with a Teacher). Silcheon Munhaksa, 1992 (multiple authors)

Areumdaun Eolgul (A Beautiful Face). Chosun Ilbo Publishing, 1993 (multiple authors)

1993 4daemunhaksang Daesangjakga Daepyojak: Ti Taimui Monyeo (Award-Winning Works from Korea’s Top Four Literary Awards, 1993: Mother and Daughter at Teatime). Oegilsa, 1993 (multiple authors)

Hangukdanpyeonmunhak (Korean Short Fiction). Kumsung Publishing, 1994 (multiple authors)

Saeroun Jakgagundan Debwijakpumjip (New Writers’ Debut Collection). Keunsan, 1994 (multiple authors)

Jamjaneun Galmaegi (A Sleeping Seagull). The Korea Economic Daily, 1995 (multiple authors)

Dalbiche Gireul Mureo (Asking the Moonlight for Directions). The Korea Economic Daily, 1995 (multiple authors)

(Haebang50nyeon, Munhakpyeongnonga 55myeongi Seonjeonghan) Hanguk Daepyo Jungdanpyeon Soseol 50 (Fifty Years after Liberation: Fifty Korean Short Fiction Works Selected by Fifty-Five Literary Critics). JoongAng Ilbo Publishing, 1995 (multiple authors)

(Post-Cold War Literature 1990-1995: Selected Works of Fiction, vols. 1-2). Goryeowon, 1996 (multiple authors)

Nopsaeui Jip Oe (Home of the Northeast Wind and Other Works). Kumsung Publishing, 1996 (multiple authors)

Hanguk 3dae Munhaksang Susangsoseoljip 7: 1991-1993 (Award-Winning Works from Korea’s Top Three Literary Awards, vol. 7: 1991-1993). Garam Publishing, 1998 (multiple authors)

Oyeongsu Munhaksang Susangjakpumjip (O Yeong-su Literary Award Anthology). Ulsan Maeil Shinmun, S-oil, 2002 (multiple authors)

Dong-in Munhaksang Susangjakpumjip: 21-25hoe 1990-1994 (Dong-in Literary Award Anthology, vols. 21-25: 1990-1994). Chosun Ilbo Publishing, 2003 (multiple authors)

Sinchunmunye Dangseonsoseol Geoljakseon (New Year’s Literary Contest Fiction Anthology). Gyeganmunye, 2005 (multiple authors)

Gimwonil·Songgiwon Oe (Kim Won-il, Song Ki-won and Other Writers). Changbi Publishers, Inc., 2005 (multiple authors)

Obaltan; Wolhaeng (A Stray Bullet, Wolhaeng). Hemingway Korea, 2005 (multiple authors)

Hanguksoseol 100nyeon Soseol 100in 100seon (A Century of Korean Fiction: 100 Works by 100 Authors). Ilsong Media, 2006 (multiple authors)

Uri Saengaeui Kkot Oe: 1990-1999 (The Flower of Our Lives and Other Works: 1990-1999). Prunsasang, 2009 (multiple authors)

Junggosaengi Kkok Ilgeoya Hal Hanguk Danpyeonsoseol Beseuteu 37 (Thirty-Seven Top Korean Short Stories Teenagers Must Read). Hyemunseogwa, 2012 (multiple authors)

Hwangseongnyeongui Hanguk Myeongdanpyeon 101 (101 Masterpiece Korean Short Stories Selected by Hwang Sok-Yong). Munhakdongne Publishing Corp., 2015 (multiple authors)

Munhageuro Geonneun Hwaseong: Munindeurui Jakpumeuro Dorabon Hwaseongui Yeoksawa Jiri, Geurigo Saram Saneun Iyagi (Walking Mars Through Literature: Reflecting on the History and Geography of Mars, and Everyday Life in Literary Works). Baekjo, 2019 (multiple authors)

Poetry Collections and Selected Works

Yeorahopsarui Si (Poetry at Nineteen). Hanjin Publishing, 1978

Geudae Eon Sari Teojyeo 詩ga Binnal Ttae (When Your Frozen Flesh Cracks Open and Poetry Shines). Silcheon Munhaksa, 1983

Maeumsok Bulgeun Kkochip (A Red Petal in the Heart). Changjakgwa Bipyeongsa, 1990

Dan Hanbeon Boji Mothan Nae Kkotdeul (My Flowers I Never Once Saw). Random House JoongAng, 2006

Jeonyeok (Evening). Silcheon Munhak, 2010

Geudaega Geudaeege Jeoreul Ollini (As You Bow to Yourself). Sallim Publishing, 2023

Geudaeneun Eonjena Bakke (You, Always Outside). Sallim Publishing, 2023

(17in Sinjaksijip) Machimnae Siiniyeo (A New Poetry Collection by Seventeen Poets: Finally, O Poet). Changjakgwa Bipyeongsa, 1984 (multiple authors)

Olhaeui Si 1991: Geudae Sarang Saesal Tuiul Ttae (Poem of the Year, 1991: When Your Love Grows New Flesh). Silcheon Munhaksa, 1991 (multiple authors)

Sarangeul Meogeumeun Ja I Bom, Mongmareugetda (The One Who Holds Love Within Will Thirst This Spring). Random House JoongAng, 2006 (multiple authors)

Essays

(Songgiwon Jammunjip) Seumuldaseotjangui Yeopseo (Song Ki-Won’s Miscellany: Twenty-Five Postcards). Samminsa, 1987

Jakga Songgiwonui Dwitgolmok Gihaeng (Writer Song Ki-Won’s Journey Through the Backstreets). Hankyoreh, 1989

Songgiwonui Dwitgolmok Matsesang (Song Ki-Won’s Flavors of the Backstreets). Irum, 2006

Monnani Noja: Urisidae Saeroun Dodeokgyeong (Foolish Old Master: A New Tao Te Ching for Our Time). Greenreview Publishing, 2011

Jeoleun Siinui Sarang (A Young Poet’s Love). Silcheon Munhaksa, 1989 (multiple authors)

Nareul Umjigin Geu Hanmadi (The Word That Moved Me). Myungjin Publishing, 1995 (multiple authors)

Haenam Ttang Kkeute Gago Sipda (I Wish to Visit Ttangkkeut in Haenam), Ilsang & Isang, 2022 (multiple authors)

Children’s Books

Jeon Bong-jun. Woongjin Publishing, 1987