Jung Jaeheon, Director of Iyongdo Faith Studies Institute, Publishes 'Literature of Faith'

Published 14 Mar.2020 21:23(KST)

Publication of ‘Literature of Faith,’ a Collection of Literary Works by Methodist Pastor Lee Yong-do (1901?1933), an Independence Activist and Leading Revivalist during the Japanese Colonial Period

Jung Jaeheon, Director of Iyongdo Faith Studies Institute, Publishes 'Literature of Faith'

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] The Lee Yong-do Faith Studies Institute (Director Jaeheon Jeong) has unveiled the literary works collection of Methodist Pastor Lee Yong-do (1901?1933), an independence activist during the Japanese colonial period and the era's foremost revivalist, titled Faith Literature. (Edited by Jaeheon Jeong / Published by Joo-ui Geot / 572 pages / 28,000 KRW)

The institute published Pastor Lee Yong-do Complete Works 3: Faith Literature through the publisher Joo-ui Geot, newly illuminating Lee Yong-do’s literary and artistic world.

This book is distinguished by its literary and aesthetic approach, differing from previous attempts that approached Lee Yong-do from theological and historical perspectives.

Lee Yong-do’s writings have been variously introduced since 1927 in publications such as Ai Saenghwal, Gidok Sinbo, Jonggyo Gyoyuk, and Sinang Saenghwal. From the 1930s to 2020, collections of his writings?including Letters, Diaries, and Essays?have been steadily published every decade.

The newly spotlighted Faith Literature comprises 105 poems by Lee Yong-do, one hymn lyric, 17 essays, five plays, 13 children’s literary works, one translated literary piece, two reportages, and an appendix. The appendix introduces Yong-do’s poetics and literary criticism.

Jaeheon Jeong (38), editor of Faith Literature, is planning and writing a total of 15 volumes of Pastor Lee Yong-do’s complete works. In 2019, Jeong attracted attention by publishing Pastor Lee Yong-do Complete Works 1: Letters and Pastor Lee Yong-do Complete Works 2: Diaries.

Previously, Jeong published standalone books such as Pastor Lee Yong-do Biography: The Restart of Christianity, Pastor Lee Yong-do Poems: The Door Through Which the Lord Enters, Pastor Lee Yong-do 365 Devotions: Bring Forth the Truth, and Song of the Lord’s People: Critique of Pastor Lee Yong-do’s Heresy Theory, shedding new light on Lee Yong-do’s faith.

Jeong said, “Pastor Lee Yong-do adopted the pen name ‘Simueon’ (是無言), meaning ‘silence is right.’ He preached that ‘prayer is poetry,’ and ‘if faith is deep, all his words are poetry.’ Lee Yong-do’s faith literature presents a humble ‘silent prayer poem’ to today’s Christianity, which shouts while holding the cross flag in public squares.”

Jeong added, “Pastor Lee Yong-do offered direction for Christian faith life through spiritually rich poems such as ‘Suffering is my teacher, poverty is my compassion, humility is my palace.’ If faith life is lived with this mindset, the church would not face social criticism as it does today.”

Poet Shin Gyu-ho (former vice president of Sungkyul University) stated in On Poet Lee Yong-do, “Lee Yong-do, unaware that he was a poet himself, left precious prayer poems within his faith diaries and letters, thereby securing an important position in the history of Korean Christian poetry. He was also a poet who originally pioneered truly Korean prayer poetry.”

Jeong explained the significance of the publication, saying, “Through this Faith Literature, I want to call for a return to the essence of Christianity. Pastor Lee Yong-do beautifully demonstrates the essence of faith. The point toward which that beauty is directed is the name Jesus. This is exactly the place where Christians must return.”