Kim Ŏk (1896-unknown) is a Korean poet. He is one of the representative poets who lead the early modernism movement in the Korean poetry scene, translating Western poetry and poetics and writing his own poetry.[1] He published the first collection of translated poetry Onoeui mudo (오뇌의 무도 Dance in Agony) (1921) and the first modern poetry collection Haepariui norae (해파리의 노래 The Song of Jellyfish) (1923).[2] He taught Kim Sowol as his student, and the two of them composed folk-poetry.[3]
1. Life
Childhood
Kim Ŏk was born in Jeongju, North Pyeongan Province, in 1896. In his childhood, he was trained in traditional Chinese classics in seodang (village school), and then enrolled in Osan School, founded by Yi Seung-hun, to receive modern middle school education. In 1914, he left to go study abroad in Tokyo, Japan. Even then, he had outstanding language skills. He was good at English, Japanese, classical Chinese, and, particularly, Esperanto. When his father passed away, he quit his studies and returned home to teach at Osan School. While teaching there, he met Kim Sowol as his student and maintained a close relationship until Kim Sowol passed away.[4]
Main Activities
In 1914, when he was studying in Japan, Kim Ŏk published his poems in Hakjigwang (학지광 Light of Learning), a journal for Korean students studying in Tokyo, and began his writing career. He actively introduced Western literature in the literary journal Taeseomunyesinbo (태서문예신보) founded in 1918 and published his poem “Bomeun ganda” (봄은 간다 Spring is Leaving) (1918). In 1921, he translated and published Onoeui mudo, known as the first modern book of translated poetry. In 1923, he published Haepariui norae, the first collection of modern Korean poetry. This book contains a foreword by Yi Kwang-su and Kim Ŏk himself and 83 of Kim’s poems, which are divided into nine chapters.[5] He published poetry collections Geummorae (금모래 Golden Sand) and Bomeui norae (봄의 노래 Song of Spring) in 1925 and became the editor-in-chief of the literary journal Gameyon (가면 Mask). In 1930, he took charge of the literature section of the Maeil Sinbo, and he joined the Gyeongseong Central Broadcasting Company (경성중앙방송국) in 1934. In 1946, after Korea’s liberation from the Japanese rule, he was the executive editor for a publishing house named Suseonsa, and he gave lectures on literature in various schools. In 1947, he published his own poetry collection Meondong teul je (먼동 틀 제 At Daybreak) and a book of translated poetry Geumjandi (금잔디 Golden Grass).[6] When the Korean War erupted in 1950, he was unable to flee south and remained at his home in Gye-dong, Seoul, and was abducted to North Korea.[7]
In addition, toward the end of Korea’s colonization under Japan, Kim showed pro-Japanese tendencies. In 1937, he wrote the lyrics for labor songs reflecting pro-Japanese sentiments, such as “Jonggun ganhobuui norae (종군간호부의 노래 The Song of a War Nurse). He was also actively involved in other pro-Japanese activities, participating as a promoter of Joseon Writers’ Association (조선문인협회), a pro-Japanese organization, in 1939 and becoming a member of the cultural department of the National Full-Force Federation of Joseon (국민총력조선연맹).[8] He was included in the list of 42 pro-Japanese writers issued in 2002,[9] the list of people to be included in the “literary chapter” of the Dictionary of Pro-Japanese Collaborators (친일인명사전) announced by the National Issue Research Center (민족문제연구소)[10] in 2008, as well as on the list of 705 people who committed crimes against their own people announced by the Presidential Committee for the Inspection of Collaborations for Japanese Imperialism.[11] In addition, his activities during Korea’s colonial period were classified as crimes against the Korean people by collaborating with the Japanese and are included in detail in the Report on the Inspection of Collaborations for Japanese Imperialism (친일반민족행위진상규명 보고서).[12]
2. Writing
Until the early 1920s, Kim Ŏk mainly introduced foreign literary theories to Korea and pursued Western-style free verse, freely singing of his emotions. In the mid-1920s, however, he turned his attention to traditional poetry and forms, translating Chinese poetry, discovering folk songs, and composing Eastern-style fixed verse.[13]
Earlier Works
Kim’s major work in the earlier years of his career is “Bomeun ganda” (1918). It maintains the four-meter form[14] and the fixed pattern of traditional poetry but shows aspects of modern free verse in that it emphasizes the symbolism and significance of poetic language and gives shape to an individual’s subjective emotions.[15] Haepariui norae (1923) is his poetry collection representative of his earlier works that contain the characteristics of his poetry before his interest in folk-poetry.[16] Most of the poems in this collection are not written in the classical Chinese style and rather have individualistic rhythm and free verse. In addition, he used classic poetic language (aeoche 雅語體) to sing about an individual’s emotions and was praised for opening the horizons for free verse in Korea.[17]
Later Works
Kim stopped introducing the Western literary trends and poetics and translating Western poetry into Korean. Instead, he translated over 800 Chinese poems and began to think about applying them appropriately to the Korean language.[18] That led to the creation of gyeokjosi (elegant poetry), which was “modern Korean-style poetry,” influenced by Chinese poetry, and the folk-poetry movement. In 1925, his literary orientation shifted from foreign to traditional style, which became apparent in his poetry collection Anseo sijip (안서시집 Poetry Collection by Anseo) (1929).[20] In Anseo sijip, Kim uses the 7-5-character rhythm and sings about the nature of Korea to restore the traditionalism of poetry.[21] In particular, “Oda gada” (오다 가다 Come and Go) in Anseo sijip makes a perfect use of a fixed rhythm and emphasizes the poetic words such as “mountain path” and “apricot blossom,” showing an Eastern worldview with a will to return to nature.[22]
Translations
Kim not only published the first book of poetry translated into Korean, Onoeui mudo (1921) but also introduced foreign literary theories to Korea through “Peurangseu sidan” (프랑스 시단 French Poetry Scene) (1918) and “Seupinkeuseuui gonoe (스핑크스의 고뇌 The Agony of the Sphinx) (1920) and even expressed his stance on translation methodology through “Yeoksiron” (역시론 Theory on Translating Poetry) (1930) and other writings, arguing that translation is another type of creative writing. He also propagated the use of Esperanto and even introduced the Indian poet Tagore to Korea through poetry translations, such as Gitanjari (기탄자리 Gitanjali) (1923), Sinwol (신월 The Crescent Moon) (1924), and Wonjeong (원정 The Gardener) (1924). After 1925, he focused on translating Chinese poetry and published translations, including Mangucho (忘憂草 Day Lily) (1934), Dongsimcho (同心草 Love Letter) (1943), Kkotdabal (꽃다발 Flower Bouquet) (1944), and Jinamyeongsiseon (지나명시선 Selection of Poems from Ming China) (1944).[23]
Reference
[1] Kwon, Youngmin, Encyclopedia of Modern Korean Literature (한국현대문학대사전), Seoul National University Press, 2004.
https://terms.naver.com/entry.nhn?docId=333274&cid=41708&categoryId=41737
[2] “Kim Ŏk,” Doosan Encyclopedia (두산백과)
http://www.doopedia.co.kr/doopedia/master/master.do?_method=view&MAS_IDX=101013000831304
[3] Kwon, Youngmin, Encyclopedia of Modern Korean Literature, Seoul National University Press, 2004.
https://terms.naver.com/entry.nhn?docId=333274&cid=41708&categoryId=41737
[4] Committee for the Compilation of a Series of Studies on 100 Years of Modern Literature (근대문학100년연구총서편찬위원회), Yakjeoneuro ingneun munhaksa 1-2 (약전으로 읽는 문학사1-2 Literary History in Brief Sketches 1-2), Somyung Books, 2008, Online Original Text Service (온라인원문서비스).
http://www.krpia.co.kr/search/product?keyword=%EC%95%BD%EC%A0%84%EC%9C%BC%EB%A1%9C+%EC%9D%BD%EB%8A%94+%EB%AC%B8%ED%95%99%EC%82%AC&log=y
[5] Committee for the Compilation of a Series of Studies on 100 Years of Modern Literature, Yakjeoneuro ingneun munhaksa 1-2, Somyung Books, 2008, Online Original Text Service.
http://www.krpia.co.kr/search/product?keyword=%EC%95%BD%EC%A0%84%EC%9C%BC%EB%A1%9C+%EC%9D%BD%EB%8A%94+%EB%AC%B8%ED%95%99%EC%82%AC&log=y
[6] “Kim Ŏk,” Encyclopedia of Korean Culture (한국민족문화대백과)
http://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Contents/SearchNavi?keyword=김억&ridx=0&tot=13
[7] “List of Koreans abducted to the North,” Korean War Abductees’ Family Union
https://web.archive.org/web/20060314235718/http://www.korwarabductees.org/main/insa/3.htm#
[8] Committee for the Compilation of a Series of Studies on 100 Years of Modern Literature, Yakjeoneuro ingneun munhaksa 1-2, Somyung Books, 2008, Online Original Text Service.
http://www.krpia.co.kr/search/product?keyword=%EC%95%BD%EC%A0%84%EC%9C%BC%EB%A1%9C+%EC%9D%BD%EB%8A%94+%EB%AC%B8%ED%95%99%EC%82%AC&log=y
[9] Kim, Jae-yong, “List of Pro-Japanese Literary Works,” Literature and Practice Vol. 67, 2002, 123-148.
http://www.artnstudy.com/zineasf/Nowart/penitence/lecture/03.htm
[10] “[List] 4,776 People to be Named in the Dictionary of Pro-Japanese Collaborators,” OhmyNews, April 29, 2008.
http://www.ohmynews.com/NWS_Web/view/at_pg.aspx?CNTN_CD=A0000889220&PAGE_CD=S0200
[11] “List of 705 Koreans Who Committed Crime Against Their People through Collaboration with Japanese Imperialism,” Korean Wikipedia
https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/%EC%B9%9C%EC%9D%BC%EB%B0%98%EB%AF%BC%EC%A1%B1%ED%96%89%EC%9C%84_705%EC%9D%B8_%EB%AA%85%EB%8B%A8
[12] “Kim Ŏk,” Encyclopedia of Korean Culture
http://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Contents/SearchNavi?keyword=김억&ridx=0&tot=13
[13] Author of Haepariui norae
https://book.naver.com/bookdb/book_detail.nhn?bid=11405081
[14] Committee for the Compilation of a Series of Studies on 100 Years of Modern Literature, Yakjeoneuro ingneun munhaksa 1-2, Somyung Books, 2008, Online Original Text Service.
http://www.krpia.co.kr/search/product?keyword=%EC%95%BD%EC%A0%84%EC%9C%BC%EB%A1%9C+%EC%9D%BD%EB%8A%94+%EB%AC%B8%ED%95%99%EC%82%AC&log=y
[15] Choi, Yong-seok, “A Study on the Origination of Modern Korean Poetry,” The Review of Korean Cultural Studies (한민족문화연구) 13, 2003.
[16] “Haepariui norae,” Encyclopedia of Korean Culture
https://terms.naver.com/entry.nhn?docId=527203&cid=46645&categoryId=46645
[17] Kwon, Youngmin, Encyclopedia of Modern Korean Literature, Seoul National University Press, 2004.
https://terms.naver.com/entry.nhn?docId=333274&cid=41708&categoryId=41737
[18] Jeong, Gi-in, “Formation of Modern Korean Poetry and the Tradition of Classical Chinese,” Ph.D diss., Seoul National University, 2017.
[19] Woo, Won-ho, “Poet (3) Kim Ŏk,” Webzine Seein Kwangjang (웹진 시인광장), 2012.
http://seeinkwangjang.com/60165102756
[20] Oh, Se-yeong, Hanguk nangmanjuui si yeongu (한국낭만주의시연구 A Study on Romantic Korean Poetry), Iljisa, 1983.
[21] “Anseo sijip,” Encyclopedia of Korean Culture
http://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Contents/SearchNavi?keyword=김억&ridx=3&tot=13
[22] “Oda gada,” Doosan Encyclopedia
http://www.doopedia.co.kr/doopedia/master/master.do?_method=view&MAS_IDX=101013000712848
[23] Book information for Kim Ŏk siseon (김억 시선 Selected Poems of Kim Ŏk)
https://book.naver.com/bookdb/book_detail.nhn?bid=7305161
