Lee Jaemoo


Lee Jaemoo is a South Korean poet and educator. He started writing by publishing works on Salmui Munhak, and Literature and Society. He is a lyrical poet that examines objects and inner sides with a subtle but solid voice. He won the 2nd Nango Literature Prize, the Pyeonwoon Literature Prize, the 1st Yun Dongju Poetry Prize, and the Hannam Literature Prize. Currently he is working as a professor at Seoul Digital University.

Life

Lee Jaemoo was born in Buyeo, South Chungcheong Province, South Korea. He graduated from Hannam University in Korean literature. He also completed a master's degree in Korean literature at Dongguk University. He began his literary career in 1983 after publishing 5 poems including "Gwireul hubinda" on a mook called Salmui Munhak. From 1993 to 1994, he was the deputy chairman of the poetry subcommittee of the Association of Writers for National Literature. In 1994, he was a representative of the Korean People's Artist Federation. He was awarded the 2nd Nango Literature Prize in 2002. He was awarded the 15th Pyeon-un Literature award in 2005. In 2006, he was awarded the 1st Yun Dongju Literature Award. He has published poetry collections Seotdalgeumeum, Ondadeon saram oji ango, Beolcho, Mom-e Pineun Kkot, Siganui geumul, Widaehan siksa, Pureun gojib, Nugunga nareul ulgo itdamyeon, Jeonyeok 6 si, Gyeongkwaehan yurang, and Seulpeume-ge mureupuel kkulda. He also published a poetry anthology Oraedoen nongdam, and a handwritten poetry collection, Jureumsoke nareul darinda, as well as poetry critique collection, Saramdeul sai-e kkot-I pindamyeon. He published an essay collection, Saengui byeonbang-eseo, and Sesang-eseo jeil matitneun bab. He also co-authored Minjoksi-in Shin Kyeong-nim si-ineul chataseo, and compiled Daepyosi, Daepyopyeongron I, II. He taught poetry writing at Dongguk University graduate school, Hanshin University, Chugye University for the Arts, Chongju National College of Science and Technology, and Hannam University. He is currently the editor in chief of the seasonal journal, Sijak, and is also working as a professor at Seoul Digital University.

Writing

Lee Jaemoo's poetry is lyrical. With a sincere voice, he has expressed sympathy for those that have been excluded, love for the minority, reminiscence on nature and mother, and truthful examination on life and literature. Of course, even though he possesses such consistent critical mind, Lee Jaemoo's poetry has experienced changes according to the period. If his poetry can be divided into three periods: first is the beginning of his literary career and the publication of his first poetry collection Seotdalgeumeum until his third poetry collection, Beolcho. The second is from the time of his fourth poetry collection, Mom-e Pineun Kkot. The third is after he published his fifth poetry collection, Widaehan siksa.
During his first period, the poet, who comes from the countryside, reminisced about his family history and surrounding stories with a calm voice. In contrast, his second period was mostly of works that describes the suffering and conflict of people that moved from the countryside into the city, as they lead lives of hardship and long for their hometown. While the first period had works showing memories of the past as they are, the second was a time where he expressed the frustration of the modern person's life in the city, as and their desire to return home. Lastly, the third period showed how the poet himself was aware of the harsh reality he must live as a city dweller, but also an image of how he dreams of returning to nature along with civilization.
Lee Jaemoo's poetry shows the narrator's adolescent experiences in the countryside, often rebuking for today's civilized society that have lost its innocence. He compares the lives of healthy countryside lifestyle with the cold, dry life of modern people. In contemporary times, he criticizes 'progress', an ideology of modernism, and often writes works arguing for restoration of the environment. Even in political criticism, he shows lyrical sensitivity and he writes based on his own experiences. His works are rooted in ecological imagination, recovering life's virtues and values that have been lost by capitalism after the modern times, hence his accolade as one of Korea's major lyric poets who criticizes civilization.

Works

Poetry collections

Seotdalgeumeum, Cheongsa, 1987. Ondadeon saram oji ango, Moonji Publishing, 1990. Beolcho, Silcheon Munhak, 1992. Mom-e Pineun Kkot, Changbi, 1996. Siganui geumul, Munhakdongne, 1997. Widaehan siksa, Segyesa, 2002. Pureun gojib, Cheonnyeonui sijak, 2004. Nugunga nareul ulgo itdamyeon, Hwanam Publishing, 2007. Jeonyeok 6 si, Changbi, 2007. Gyeongkwaehan yurang, Moonji Publishing, 2011. Seulpeume-ge mureupuel kkulda, Silcheon Munhak, 2014.

Poetry anthologies

Oraedoen nongdam, Bookin, 2008. Jureumsoke nareul darinda ZMANZ, 2013.

Poetry critique collections

Saramdeul sai-e kkot-I pindamyeon, Hwanam, 2005.

Essay collections

Saengui byeonbang-eseo Hwanam, 2003. Sesang-eseo jeil matitneun bab, Hwanam, 2010. Jibchakeurobuteo-ui dopi, Cheonnyeonui sijak, 2016.

Awards

  • 2002 2nd Nango Literature Prize
  • 2005 15th Pyeon-un Literature Award
  • 2006 1st Yun Dongju Literature Award