Ko un sung

Loss ko un
Ko un south korea snowfall
Ear by ko un

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Ko Un : Korean Poet, World Poet

There can be no real doubt that Ko Un (nb. ‘Ko’ is the family name, always written first in Korean) has for long been Korea’s foremost poet. And now he is one of the world’s leading poets. From the very outset of his life as a poet, in the late 1950s, he was recognized as having rare talents, with his keen sensitivity, outstanding powers of intuition, the breadth and depth of his imagination and his skillful use of language, as well as the maturity of his understanding of human life.

Ko Un’s life has been acclaimed as “a prime example of ten-thousand-foot high waves,” an ancient Korean expression indicating the link between suffering and strength. He has long been called “a phenomenon,” and is sometimes referred to as “the Ko Uns” instead of “Ko Un” because of his productivity, unparalleled in the history of Korean literature. He is often said to write a poem every time he breathes.

A Korean literary critic once said, “It’s as if he breathes his poems before putting them to paper. I feel that his poems emerge from his lips rather then

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Ko Un 1933- (Un Ko)

PERSONAL:

Born Ko Un-t'ae, August 1, 1933, in Kunsan, South Korea; married Lee Sang-Wha (a professor of English), 1983; children: ChaRyong (daughter).

ADDRESSES:

Home—Ansong, South Korea. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER:

Writer, poet, political activist, teacher, and former Buddhist monk. Association for Korean Writers for the Realization of Freedom, secretary general, 1974-80; National Association for the Recovery of Democracy, spokesperson, 1974; Korean Association of Human Rights, vice chair, 1978; National Association of National Unity, vice chair, 1979; Association of Korean Artists, chair, 1989-90; Association of Writers of National Literature, president, 1992-94. Kyonggi University Graduate School, resident professor, 1994-98; Harvard University, Harvard Yenching Institute, visiting research scholar, 1999; University of California, Berkeley, poetry teacher, 1999. Entered Buddhist monastery, 1952; left c. 1963. Also worked as a school headmaster and art teacher, from 1963-67.

AWARDS, HONORS:

Korean Literature Prize, 1974, 1987; Manhae L

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Ko Un was a witness to the devastation of the Korean War. He volunteered for the People's Army, but was rejected because he was underweight.

He became a Zen Buddhist monk in the 1950s, and returned to secular life sometime in the 1960s.

Ko Un became an activist opposing the harsh and arbitrary rule of South Korea's president, President Park Chung-hee. His dissident activities led to several terms of imprisonment and torture.

The democratization of South Korea in the late 1980s finally gave Ko Un the freedom to travel to other countries, including a visit to the United States and make a spiritual journey through India.

He married in 1985 and had a daughter.

I recently became aware of allegations of sexual misconduct by Ko Un from a few different women. This is always troubling to hear about in a public figure who has otherwise been a source of inspiration and courage for people. It once again raises the question for us, does the conduct of the man tarnish our appreciation of his art? I have to say, for me personally, it does. Having said that, I have heard whispers that there m