As the 81st anniversary of poet Yoon Dong-ju's passing approaches, attention is drawn to the house of Jeong Byeong-wook in Gwangyang, which played a crucial role in bringing his poetry to the world.
Approaching the 81st anniversary of Yoon Dong-ju's death, the Jeong Byeong-wook house in Gwangyang, South Korea, gains recognition for its historical significance in preserving the poet's works. Yoon, who was arrested during the anti-Japanese movement in 1943, met a tragic fate by dying in prison at the young age of 29. Gwangyang is particularly important in Yoon's legacy as it is the place where his posthumous collection, 'Sky, Wind, Stars, and Poetry', was critically saved from obscurity. The collection, which was meant to be published as Yoon's graduation gift, was thwarted by Japanese censorship but eventually came to light with the help of his friend Jeong Byeong-wook.
Jeong, a professor at Seoul National University, received a manuscript of Yoon's poems which he entrusted to his mother before being conscripted as a student soldier in 1944. His mother ingeniously hid the manuscript in a jar beneath the floor of their home. After returning to Korea post-liberation in 1945, Jeong retrieved the manuscript, ensuring that Yoon Dong-ju's work would not be lost forever. In 1948, the collection was finally published, marking a significant moment in Korean literary history. Without the hidden manuscript, Yoon's legacy might have been lost.
Today, Gwangyang celebrates its connection to Yoon Dong-ju through the preserved Jeong Byeong-wook house, now a registered cultural heritage site. The house showcases the historical context of Yoon’s work by depicting the situation in which Jeong's mother stored the poems. Nearby, the 'Yoon Dong-ju Poetry Garden' features engravings of all 31 poems in 'Sky, Wind, Stars, and Poetry', while the scenic 'Star Counting Bridge' connects the port with Baedaldo Island, enhancing the area's cultural and historical appeal, inviting visitors to delve deeper into Yoon's poignant legacy.
