In order to remember the literary achievements of Yeongnang Kim Yun-sik, the representative lyric poet of 20th century Korea and to spread his poetic spirit, the Yeongnang Literature Festival is held in April when the peony flowers bloom at the birthplace where Yeongnang was born and raised. During the literature festival, the Yeongnang Essay Contest for participation of nationwide elementary, middle and high school students, university students and general public and the Yeongnang Literature Award are held. The International Peony Festival is held at the same time to captivate eyes and ears of visitors with colorful peony flowers.
Yeongnang Kim Yun-sik (永郞 金允植, 1903~1950)
Yeongnang is a pen name that Kim used since publishing his work in the 'Poetic Literature'. He pursued the linguistic aesthetics by discovering Korean style rhythm. Yeongnang published around 80 works including a gem of a poem "Until Peonies Bloom" until he passed away in 1950. Among them, around 60 works were written during the life in Gangjin when he refused to change his name to Japanese name and to visit Japanese shrines before the independence. As a poet who had an excellent sense of expressing earthy regional dialect into rhythmic poetic words, he has been recognized as a master of pure lyric poems that honored the modern history of literature, and as a national poet and a fighter for independence who wrote absolutely no pro-Japanese phrases.
Until peonies bloom... Time traveling to the 1900s
Festival Overview
- Festival : Yeongnang Literature Festival
- Period : April each year
- Venue : Yeongnang's birthplace (In Yeongnang-ro, Gangjin-eup, Gangjin-gun, Jeollanam-do) ※ Gangjin Art Hall in case of rain
- Targets : Nationwide elementary, middle, high school students, university students and general public
- Inquiries : 061-430-3186 (Gangjin Poetic Literature Hall)
