A memorial event honoring the poet Park In-hwan is being held in Inje and Seoul to commemorate the 70th anniversary of his death and the 100th anniversary of his birth.
The upcoming memorial event for Poet Park In-hwan, who represents modernist literature in South Korea, marks not only the 70th anniversary of his death in 1956 but also the 100th anniversary of his birth in 1926. From October 14 to 20, various tribute activities will be conducted in his hometown of Inje and in Seoul, where his grave is located. The Inje County Cultural Foundation has prepared a space for visitors to pay their respects, including the opportunity to leave messages and flowers, encouraging them to reflect on his notable works such as 'The Horse and the Lady' and 'As Time Goes By'.
The highlight of this week-long commemoration will be an official memorial ceremony held on October 20th at the Mangwoo Historical Cultural Park in Jungnang-gu, Seoul, featuring Park In-hwan's eldest son, poet Park Se-hyung, and other attendees who will read tribute poems. This ceremony is set to reconnect Park In-hwan’s literary messages with contemporary language, allowing new audiences to appreciate his poetic contributions.
Additionally, a unique performance that merges poetry and music will feature singer-songwriter Chanson J, who plans to reinterpret Park's representative poems into music. Beyond the memorial week, the Inje County Cultural Foundation aims to uphold the literary spirit of Park In-hwan through ongoing initiatives, including exhibitions that reflect on his life and works, and a literary festival scheduled for September, thus ensuring his artistic legacy resonates with future generations.
