Jirisan Poet Hong Jun-gyeong Publishes Fifth Poetry Collection 'The Last Gift on Earth'

Jirisan Poet Hong Jun-kyung / ⓒ Asia Economy

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Hyun] Hong Jun-gyeong (66), a poet of the Jirisan lyrical school widely known as the poet of Sansuyu metaphor, has released his fifth poetry collection, "The Last Gift on Earth."

Hong, who calls himself part of a dizygotic twin couple after donating one of his kidneys to his wife who underwent two kidney transplant surgeries, says, "My wife also had colon cancer surgery and is living life as a five-minute standby, tying her shoelaces tightly."

Having published four poetry collections themed around Sansuyu flowers and trees?such as "Seomjingang Metaphor," "Sansuyu Flower Wall," "Mother of Sansuyu Flowers," and "Sansuyu Flower Metaphor"?Hong included in this fifth collection a series of poems titled "The Last Gift on Earth," which realistically depicts his feelings up to the point of donating a kidney to his wife.

This poetry collection is divided into six parts: Hwaeom Hongmae, The Last Gift on Earth, Evening of the Hostas, Our Father Dongchun Yangban, Grandchild is the Lotto, and Stolen Summer, and concludes with a critique by literary PhD Kim Nam-gyu (adjunct professor at Korea University).

In particular, "Stolen Summer" contains the poet's painful heart as he witnessed the great flood of the Seomjingang River in Gurye this summer.

Hong Jun-gyeong was born in Sandong, Gurye, where Sansuyu flowers bloom abundantly in spring, creating a flower palace, and spent his childhood in a village beneath Jirisan. He debuted in the literary world after winning the 2005 Gangwon Ilbo New Year's Literary Contest. He studied international business at the Graduate School of Trade at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies and also managed a construction company in Seoul.

Kim Nam-gyu, adjunct professor at Korea University, commented, "This poetry collection condenses 'In Search of Lost Time That Is Forever Beautiful,'" and added, "The series of poems titled 'The Last Gift on Earth,' which is also the title of the collection, contains Hong's poignant story."

Currently, Hong lives as a five-minute standby for his wife in the "Gurye Sandong Hong Jun-gyeong Poet Mural Village," where the entire village is painted with murals by junior artist Lee Kang-hee.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.