By Bernard Rowan
Recently, I traveled to Washington, D.C., and delivered an address on the poetry of Yoon Dong-ju (1917-45). The invitation came from members of the Yoon Dong-Ju Literature Society. It was an honor and pleasure to speak about Yoon's collection of poems. The group also gave tribute to the late professor Choi Yearn-hong, one of the society's founding members and patrons, as well as a Korea Times columnist.
South Korea's struggle against colonial occupation by the empire of Japan and her development to a more democratic society didn't occur in a vacuum. Korea's emergence paralleled the similar efforts of people to emerge from imperial rulers claiming a divine right under fascism.
Yoon's poetry celebrates life in nature, longing for and loving one's home and family and "han," or a deep-rooted feeling of grief or resentment. These values compose my understanding of the Korean spirit for freedom. As themes widespread in Yoon's poems, they follow and trace his words about life, family and friends.
Yoon's writings continue to stand the test of time. The recent centennial of his birth has been marked by tributes, revivals of his works and even a feature film. I think Yoon would be surprised. He didn't seek the title of "revolutionary" or "freedom fighter," and there's no evidence he wrote to catalyze the Korean drive for independence. But ideas have consequences, and words carry meanings that stir the hearts of others.
When I met the society, we discussed other Korean freedom fighters, the way that ideas of love and freedom combine in patriotism and love of one's homeland as well as the universality of Yoon's ideas.
I've learned that Yonsei University and Jongno-gu in Seoul have spaces dedicated to Yoon and to his life and poetry. Yoon attended Yonsei when it went by the name Yonhi College. Pinson Hall on the main campus now houses a museum in Yoon's memory. Yoon lived there, which used to be a dormitory when he studied at Yonhi. The family presented his papers and documents to create the basis for this wonderful place. Yonsei University dedicated the hall in 2020 and continues to develop it as an active center for learning about Yoon's life and works.
Similarly, Buam-dong in Seoul houses the award-winning Yoon Dong-Ju Literary Museum, designed from the remnants of a waterworks. It received the 2013 Prime Minister's Award for Public Architecture and a 2014 Seoul Architectural Award. Near Mount Inwang, a favorite mountain for Yoon and source of inspiration, it's also worth a visit. A beautiful garden and theater, as well as many of Yoon's writings and photographs, form parts of the museum. Nearby, one can climb "Poet's Hill" near Chungan Park. The view of Seoul from there is wonderful!
The present age stands awkwardly in "the autocratic moment" as China, North Korea, Iran and Russia today stand against the fundamental human right of self-determination. Even democracies like America have veered to adopt behaviors and positions against common freedom and self-respect.
Freedom as a value becomes license and autocracy when it lacks the leavening agents of reason and reasonableness, her cousins. Recalling freedom as a human impulse will continue to drive civilization and change only as it entails energy that captures the permanent interests of people and societies, not momentary phantoms, lies and delusions.
Koreans and friends of Korean freedom and independence should continue developing the legacy of Yoon Dong-ju by encouraging the poetry of the human spirit tied to concerns of the day. It's important also to find other freedom fighters less heralded for their contributions to Korean independence. Choi Yearn-hong's works on children of the Korean War point in the right direction.
Today's young people are tomorrow's leaders. Seeing a movie about Yoon (such as the 2016 Korean film "Dongju: Portrait of a Poet") reading his poetry in school, and learning to write in the vein of his love and freedom carry forward his life and its legacy in real ways. Just as Yoon didn't set out to be a poet of freedom, we don't know who the next Yoon Dong-ju will be or where they may flourish, in life or in posterity. I read of one such invention by Chinese student Chenning Ye, to create an interactive e-book for students based on one of Yoon's poems. She won a famous prize in design. The e-book now finds use in Peking University.
Bernard Rowan (browan10@yahoo.com) is associate provost for contract administration and professor of political science at Chicago State University. He is a past fellow of the Korea Foundation and former visiting professor at Hanyang University.
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South Korea's struggle against colonial occupation by the empire of Japan and her development to a more democratic society didn't occur in a vacuum. Korea's emergence paralleled the similar efforts of people to emerge from imperial rulers claiming a divine right under fascism.
Yoon's poetry celebrates life in nature, longing for and loving one's home and family and "han," or a deep-rooted feeling of grief or resentment. These values compose my understanding of the Korean spirit for freedom. As themes widespread in Yoon's poems, they follow and trace his words about life, family and friends.
Yoon's writings continue to stand the test of time. The recent centennial of his birth has been marked by tributes, revivals of his works and even a feature film. I think Yoon would be surprised. He didn't seek the title of "revolutionary" or "freedom fighter," and there's no evidence he wrote to catalyze the Korean drive for independence. But ideas have consequences, and words carry meanings that stir the hearts of others.
When I met the society, we discussed other Korean freedom fighters, the way that ideas of love and freedom combine in patriotism and love of one's homeland as well as the universality of Yoon's ideas.
I've learned that Yonsei University and Jongno-gu in Seoul have spaces dedicated to Yoon and to his life and poetry. Yoon attended Yonsei when it went by the name Yonhi College. Pinson Hall on the main campus now houses a museum in Yoon's memory. Yoon lived there, which used to be a dormitory when he studied at Yonhi. The family presented his papers and documents to create the basis for this wonderful place. Yonsei University dedicated the hall in 2020 and continues to develop it as an active center for learning about Yoon's life and works.
Similarly, Buam-dong in Seoul houses the award-winning Yoon Dong-Ju Literary Museum, designed from the remnants of a waterworks. It received the 2013 Prime Minister's Award for Public Architecture and a 2014 Seoul Architectural Award. Near Mount Inwang, a favorite mountain for Yoon and source of inspiration, it's also worth a visit. A beautiful garden and theater, as well as many of Yoon's writings and photographs, form parts of the museum. Nearby, one can climb "Poet's Hill" near Chungan Park. The view of Seoul from there is wonderful!
The present age stands awkwardly in "the autocratic moment" as China, North Korea, Iran and Russia today stand against the fundamental human right of self-determination. Even democracies like America have veered to adopt behaviors and positions against common freedom and self-respect.
Freedom as a value becomes license and autocracy when it lacks the leavening agents of reason and reasonableness, her cousins. Recalling freedom as a human impulse will continue to drive civilization and change only as it entails energy that captures the permanent interests of people and societies, not momentary phantoms, lies and delusions.
Koreans and friends of Korean freedom and independence should continue developing the legacy of Yoon Dong-ju by encouraging the poetry of the human spirit tied to concerns of the day. It's important also to find other freedom fighters less heralded for their contributions to Korean independence. Choi Yearn-hong's works on children of the Korean War point in the right direction.
Today's young people are tomorrow's leaders. Seeing a movie about Yoon (such as the 2016 Korean film "Dongju: Portrait of a Poet") reading his poetry in school, and learning to write in the vein of his love and freedom carry forward his life and its legacy in real ways. Just as Yoon didn't set out to be a poet of freedom, we don't know who the next Yoon Dong-ju will be or where they may flourish, in life or in posterity. I read of one such invention by Chinese student Chenning Ye, to create an interactive e-book for students based on one of Yoon's poems. She won a famous prize in design. The e-book now finds use in Peking University.
Bernard Rowan (browan10@yahoo.com) is associate provost for contract administration and professor of political science at Chicago State University. He is a past fellow of the Korea Foundation and former visiting professor at Hanyang University.
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