[471 Clip] Celebrating the Legacy of Shin Kyung-rim

   Dongguk University has organized a series of commemorative events to mark the first anniversary of the passing of poet Shin Kyung-rim, a representative figure in modern Korean poetry and a proud alumnus of the university. From May 1st to May 31st, a special exhibition “Hanging Poetry Exhibition” was held at Paljeondo, located at the center of the campus. Uniquely, the entire Paljeondo has been transformed into an open gallery, allowing visitors to encounter his poetry as they walk, evoking moments of personal reflection. In addition, various memorials have been held in other locations, including his hometown of Chungju.

Shin Kyung-rim’s legacy at Dongguk University 

   After graduating from the Department of English Language and Literature at Dongguk University, Shin Kyung-rim went on to serve as a distinguished chair professor in the Department of Korean Language, Literature, and Creative Writing at his alma mater. He was also the inaugural recipient of the Dongguk Literary Award, further deepening his ties with the university. A stone monument engraved with one of his representative poems, Mokgae Marketplace, stands at the university’s main gate. The poem, which conveys the unchanging nature of humanity and the resilience of life, remains one of his most beloved works.

The life and literary world of poet Shin Kyung-rim

   Poet Shin Kyung-rim made his literary debut in 1956 with the poem Reed. His early works, such as Reed and Gravestone, do not limit their subjects to farmers alone, but rather reflect the universal solitude and desolation of human life, conveying a message of hope in the face of hardship. His first poetry collection Nongmu (Farmers’ Dance) earned him the inaugural Manhae Literature Prize and established him as a leading “people’s poet” through the late 1990s. He portrayed rural settings not as vague or idealized landscapes but as emotionally rich spaces imbued with Korean sentiments such as han, grief, and introspection.

Hanging Poetry Exhibition at Dongguk University

   Jointly organized by the Dongguk Literary Society—an association of alumni writers—and the College of Liberal Arts at Dongguk University, this commemorative event features a variety of programs, including poetry readings, exhibitions, academic seminars, and interactive activities. The exhibition showcases poems written in memory of Shin Kyung-rim by over 40 poets, including Dongguk alumni and fellow poets who shared personal ties with him, such as Jeong Hee-seong, Do Jong-hwan, Lee Jae-moo, Park Hyung-joon, and Yoo Gye-young. These poems will also be published as an illustrated poetry collection titled “All that lives is beautiful”, scheduled for release on May 1st.    

   Shin Kyung-rim’s poetry transcends simple language to capture the pain of Korea’s modern history, the breath of its people, and the essence of human existence—offering a timeless resonance across generations. The commemorative exhibition at Dongguk University and the poetry recitation contest in Chungju are more than mere memorial events; they are meaningful opportunities to reflect on and carry forward the literary legacy Shin left behind. His poetic language, written over a lifetime, continues to breathe and offers profound insight to those living today.