Lee O-young


Lee O-young was a South Korean critic and novelist.

Life and career

Lee O-young was born on 15 January 1934, in Asan, Chūseinan Province, Korea, Empire of Japan. Lee went to Buyeo High School and Seoul National University from which he received undergraduate and graduate degrees in Korean literature. Lee has taught at Ewha Womans University, where he was a professor emeritus, and Dankook University. Lee has been the chief editor of Munhak sasang and the Korean Minister of Culture.
He died from cancer on 26 February 2022, at the age of 88.

Work

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, "Lee Sang non", he caused a stir in literary circles with his next essay, "Usang eui pagoe", published in Hankook Ilbo in 1956. 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.

Literary works

Translated works

The General's Beard

Works in Korean (partial)

Critical collectionsJeohang eui munhak Jeonhu munhag eui saemulgyeol Tonggeum sidae eui munhak
FictionJanggun eui suyeom Amsalja Jeonjaeng Dekameron Hwangag eui dari
EssaysHeuk soge jeo baram soge
  • Sin han kuk in
  • Chook so ji hyange ilbonin
  • Digilog
  • Jisunge Osolgil
  • Jisung esu youngsung euro

Received awards

Lee has won a variety of Korean awards.
  • 1979: Korean Award for Culture and Art
  • 1992: Award for Design Culture of Japan
  • 1996: 24th Award of Japan for International Exchange
  • 2001: Cultural Award of Seoul
  • 2003: 48th Award of the Korean Council for Art
  • 2007: 2nd Mask of Respect Award
  • 2007: Samil Prize
  • 2009: 2nd Grand Award for Korean People, category for literature
  • 2009: International Masaoka Shiki Award
  • 2011: 20th Sochung Saseon Culture Award, special award
  • 2011: 24th Christian Culture Award, special award in literature