President-elect Yoon: "Poet Kim Ji-ha, a Great Footprint in Our Literary History" Memorial Tribute

Yoon Suk-yeol, the president-elect of the 20th Republic of Korea, is speaking at the plenary meeting held on the morning of the 3rd at the Presidential Transition Committee in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul. / Photo by the Transition Committee Press Corps

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol on the 9th expressed his condolences for the late poet Kim Ji-ha, saying, "I am grateful. The late poet's poems and thoughts will remain forever in our hearts."

On the same day, Yoon quoted Kim's poem "Burning Thirst" on his Facebook, stating, "The poet's yearning for freedom and democracy moved the hearts of many South Korean people and left a significant mark in our literary history."

He continued, "However, the greatness of poet Kim lies beyond being a participatory poet resisting the regime; it is in expanding the horizon of thought and directly speaking out for the universal human values of freedom and the value of life," emphasizing, "If the poet had not spoken out despite misunderstandings and criticism, the freedom, democracy, and conscience of this country would not have grown and matured as they have today."

Kim Ji-ha, who debuted in 1969 and published works such as Five Thieves and Burning Thirst, had been battling illness for over a year and passed away the day before at his home in Wonju, Gangwon Province.

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