Untold Stories Unleashed! Kim Yeong-nang's Poetry Reaches the World!

## First Bilingual Edition Brings Poet Kim Yeong-nang to New Readers

Untold Stories Unleashed! Kim Yeong-nang's Poetry ...

There's a saying in Korea: "In the North, we have Kim So-wol; in the South, we have Kim Yeong-nang." These aren't just names – they represent the very bedrock of Korean lyric poetry, figures whose influence continues to shape the emotional landscape of modern verse. And now, Kim Yeong-nang’s work is reaching a wider audience than ever before.

Kim Yeong-nang, who lived from 1903 to 1950, left behind a relatively small body of work – a mere 86 poems. Tragically, his life was cut short at the start of the Korean War. But last month saw the release of "A Thing of Beauty is a Joy Forever," the first Korean-English bilingual edition of his complete works, masterfully translated by the esteemed Brother Anthony. This is a big deal.

This new edition is more than just a translation; it's an invitation. Readers can now experience the original Korean poems alongside their English counterparts, allowing them to appreciate Kim’s distinct musicality, a quality that, remarkably, seems to transcend the barriers of language itself.

The story behind this translation is almost as captivating as the poetry itself. Brother Anthony’s journey began nearly two decades ago. As he told The Korea Times, "Kim Hyeon-cheol, the poet's son, came to my office 20 years ago. He had returned to Korea after a long exile in the United States, hoping to find someone who would translate his father's poems." It was a daunting task, to say the least.

Kim's poetry is steeped in the local vocabulary and dialect of his hometown, Gangjin, in South Jeolla Province. Remember, these poems were written during the Japanese colonial era, adding another layer of complexity. Plus, over the years, various editions emerged, each with slight textual differences – a translator's nightmare, frankly.

Brother Anthony’s initial translations saw the light of day back in 2010, published by a small press in the U.S. But it didn't get much traction and eventually went out of print. That's where Choi Sung-hoon, head of Hajun Books, enters the picture. Choi brought in an editor who painstakingly compared all the existing Korean editions to create a definitive text. This editor then meticulously reviewed Brother Anthony's earlier translations, scrutinizing every line for accuracy. The result? According to Brother Anthony, "I'm very happy with the result, because I knew there were mistakes — things I hadn't understood properly at the time. So this, I would say, is the first real edition."

Beyond the sheer beauty of Kim's poems, Brother Anthony is clearly moved by the poet's life. "I admired Kim Yeong-nang also for his life history." He lived a quiet, defiant life during the Japanese occupation, clinging to traditional customs and resisting forced assimilation. That spirit, combined with the lyrical power of his verse, makes this new edition a truly significant event for poetry lovers everywhere. I, for one, am excited to finally delve in.