Kim Sowohl (김 소월, 1902 ~ 1934)

Kim Sowohl is celebrated as a father of Korean Modern poetry and the most beloved poet in Korea even today; many of his poems were set to music and are still sung widely in Korea. Born in North Pyong’an province in Korea, now in North Korea, Kim Sowhol grew up during the most tragic time in Korean history, the Japanese colonial period (1910-1945). When he was two years old his father was beaten by Japanese laborers, building a railroad in his home region, causing a permanent mental disorder. Sowohl began writing poetry at age 16 and was prolific throughout his mid-20s. When his financial situation deteriorated, he ceased writing and committed suicide at the age of 32.

Poems