Kim Seung-hee

Kim Seung-hee (The romanization preferred by the author according to LTI Korea^[1]) is a Korean poet, essayist and novelist.^[2]

Life

Kim was born in Gwangju on March 1, 1952. She graduated from Chonnam Girls' High School and majored in English Literature, and then received a doctorate degree in Korean Literature from Sogang University. In 1973, she made her official literary debut when her poem "Geurim sogui mul" was selected for inclusion in The Kyunghyang Shinmun's yearly feature on new writers.^[2] Kim currently works as a professor at Sogang University.^[3]

Work

The early work of Kim Seung-hee is marked by a penchant for formalism, or 'art for art sake' and the poet’s utilization of fierce, unabashed language. Her later poetry, however, evolved towards the exploration of quotidian reality and questions of perennial existence in freedom.^[2]

Awards

Sowol Poetry Prize (1991)

Works in Translation

• Walking on a Washing Line: Poems by Kim Seung-hee (김승희 시선)
• I want to Hijack an Airplane (김승희 시선)

Works in Korean (Partial)

Poetry

• Taeyang misa / A Mass for the Sun (1979)
• Oensoneul wihan hyeopjugok / Left Hand (1983)
• Miwanseongeul wihan yeonga / Song for the Unfinished (1983)
• Dalgyal sogui saeng / Life Within the Egg (1989)
• Eotteoke bakkeuro nagalkka / How Can I Get out (1991)
• Bitjaru-reul Tago Dallineun Useum / Laughter Flying with the Broomstick (2002)

Essays

• Samsipsamseui pangse / Thirteen Children are Seriously Ill (1985)
• Godogui garikineun sigyebaneul (1986).
• Sipsaminui ahaega wiheomhao (1982)

Novels

• Santape-ro Ganeuen Saram / The One Who Goes to Santa Fe (1997)
• Oenjjok Nalgae-ga Yakkan Mugeoun Sae / A Bird with a Slightly Heavy Left Wing (1999)

References