Literary club discovers fierce woman poet

The Seoul Literary Society, a group of diplomats, expats and locals, celebrated the works of one of Korea’s prolific poets.

Kim Seung-hee is not only a poet but an acclaimed novelist who credits poet Lee Sang for leading her to poetry.

“It was after reading his poem that I began to see what it would mean to ‘sing’ in one’s own language about the contradictions that constitute a human being and the despair that constitutes a human life,” she said.

She made her literary debut in 1973 with the poem “Water in the Picture” and published her first novel “The One Who Goes to Santa Fe” more than 20 years later.

“The purpose of the SLS is to provide a forum for active exchange in the literary field between Korea and other countries,” said Lars Vargo, Swedish ambassador and founder of the literary group.

The members of the Society try to enhance the knowledge of Korean literature in the world and of various foreign literary traditions in Korea.

“We also try to encourage translations of Korean literature into other languages as well as foreign literature into Korean,” he said.

Last week’s meeting focused on Kim because of her fierce, unabashed language.

“She always searches for ways to escape social conventions and establish systems of thought,” he said.

About every six weeks, members get together to listen to writers recite their works and explain the inspiration behind the pieces.

The club’s only diplomatic convention is its members’ appreciation for the written word in every language.

By Yoav Cerralbo (yoav@heraldcorp.com)