New Chairman of the Korean Writers' Association Yoon Jung-mo: "Urgent Support Needed... Will Go Anywhere"

[Asia Economy Reporter Seomideum] The Korean Writers' Association is one of the representative writer organizations in the Republic of Korea that played a role in rooting freedom of expression in our society and blossoming democracy. It has also played a significant role in protecting the rights of literary figures and elevating the status of literature.

The Writers' Association inherits the spirit of the 'Council of Writers for Freedom and Practice,' established in 1974. In February, the association prepared for another leap forward by electing its 21st chairman. We heard about the aspirations and plans through a written interview with Chairman Yoon Jeong-mo, a novelist (age 76, photo). Below is a Q&A with Chairman Yoon.

- How do you feel about taking on the role of chairman of the Korean Writers' Association?

"I am a very inadequate person. It is a great burden for me to become the representative of Korea's top intellectuals with my limited ability."

- How did you come to take on the chairman position?

"When I was first informed of the nomination for chairman, I could not readily accept the offer. First, I was not prepared, and on top of that, we are in the midst of the COVID-19 situation. Financially, the association is not stable compared to the number of members, and many members suffer from poverty. I did not have the ability to look after them all or to uphold the dignity of writers. My personal circumstances were also not stable. Ultimately, I accepted because the association was approaching its 50th anniversary, and as someone born in the 1940s, I felt the necessity to conclude this event and pass the chairmanship to someone born in the 1950s."

- What kind of vision do you have?

"The Writers' Association has many outstanding poets and novelists. Several of them are gaining attention overseas. I believe that at least one of them should receive a global award. This dream is not just a vision but a hope that must be realized."

- What is your main focus?

"Literature is the beginning of imagination, new technologies, and new industries. Protection and support for this are urgent. If there are supporters or sponsors, I will go wherever they are. Also, wherever literary empathy is needed, I will go and share warm hearts. We will expand literary sharing projects, dispatch writers to libraries and bookstores, and create environments for enjoying literature across regions. Additionally, we will build an online literary platform shared by writers and citizens nationwide, increase the number of readers, and consistently petition libraries to purchase literary works. We will also start video projects to visit local writers or inform viewers about the current situations of seniors, newcomers, or the literary climate of those regions. That plan is already underway."

- What will be the biggest change in the Korean Writers' Association before and after Chairman Yoon Jeong-mo's inauguration?

"There will be no major changes. My thoughts are not new. I am focusing on reviving projects that have been neglected or shelved, continuing the work that has been steadily done."

- Recently, female writers' activities seem to stand out. How do you analyze this situation?

"It is a desirable situation, but to analyze the actual conditions, I need to study more, so I will postpone the answer to another time."

- These days, in the publishing world, everyday topics seem to receive more attention than grand narratives. What do you think?

"Everyday stories are important, but going forward, both macro and micro stories will become active. That is the nature of the Writers' Association. Please watch closely."

- As a writer, do you have any advice for the president-elect?

"Improving labor and quality of life ultimately benefits both managers and the people of the Republic of Korea. I sincerely ask that you implement a ‘balanced labor policy’ so that labor and management can coexist beautifully."

- Any message for readers?

"Literature is a friend, a teacher, and a guide that corrects the path. We literary figures hope to get closer to readers. We want to meet and communicate. We want to share stories about your life, our neighbors, and society. Dear readers, shall we become friends of the heart who raise the quality of life and spirit together?"

Who is Chairman Yoon Jeong-mo?

Yoon Jeong-mo, chairman of the Korean Writers' Association, was born in 1946 in Busan. He debuted in 1968 with the novel The Patterned Wind while studying in the Creative Writing Department at Seorabeol Art College and has published over 20 works to date.

After the Gwangju Democratization Movement in 1980, he shifted his literary perspective to social criticism, focusing on representing social issues through literature.

His works that clearly express his writer’s consciousness include the novella Her Mother's Name Was Joseonppi, which deals with the story of female military comfort women during the late Japanese colonial period; the novel Island (later revised as And Then I Heard the Shout), which portrays the history of leprosy patients' resistance during the Japanese era; the novel Reins, depicting the commodification of sex and its relation to foreign domination; and the novel Dream of the Butterfly, which symbolizes the intersection of artistic achievement and national tragedy through the life of composer Yoon I-sang, who was active in Germany.

Meanwhile, Chairman Yoon has won awards such as the Shin Dong-yup Creative Fund (1988), Danjae Literary Award (1983), and Seorabeol Literary Award (1996) by combining literary quality with historical authenticity through meticulous research.

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