Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min Wins Quarterly 'Munhak-ui Bom' Newcomer Award... Debuts as Novelist

"Winning Work 'Bukhansan Jige-kun Deokpil' Awakens Family Love"

Ryu Jeong-min, head of Issue Team 1 at this newspaper (Asia Economy), won the New Writer Award in the novel category of the quarterly magazine Munhak-ui Bom. The winning work is "Bukhansan Jige-kun Deokpil." It depicts the humanism of the protagonist, a jige-kun (traditional Korean porter) from Sobaeksan in Danyang, who takes care of his daughter alone after his wife leaves home due to mental illness, then moves to Seoul with his daughter to escape malicious rumors, lives as a jige-kun in Bukhansan, and faces a tragic end.

Ryu Jeong-min, head of the Issue 1 team at Asia Economy, won the New Writer Award from the quarterly magazine Spring of Literature for his novel Deokpil, the Porterer of Bukhansan.

The judging panel commented, "The pure inner fragrance of the protagonists, rarely found in modern society, teaches us the truth that despite the deceitful and treacherous nature of everyday life, a kind heart and unwavering family love remain fundamental." They added, "This is a novel that makes us look forward to the author's next work. As a current journalist, we expect him to fill his novels with more truths of life through a cold, clear-eyed perspective."

Ryu Jeong-min said, "Upon hearing the news of my award, I pondered whether I could deliver a novel that would leave a lasting impression on someone's life, and whether I am truly a vessel worthy of bearing the weight of writing." He added, "With the original intention of never treating even a single gram of writing lightly, I will continue to walk steadily."

Ryu graduated from Dongguk University’s Department of Forest Resources (entered in 1992) and began his career as a journalist in 2000. Since 2014, he has been with Asia Economy. He has served as a Blue House correspondent and head of the Culture and Sports Department, and currently leads Issue Team 1.

The winning work can be found in the autumn 2003 issue of the quarterly Munhak-ui Bom. Celebrating its 13th anniversary this year, Munhak-ui Bom has discovered over 220 new writers to date.

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