Chunhak Kwon
Toronto 43° 39' 12.53" N, 79° 23' 2.16" W Academic and Education Arts Artists Literature Actor Media Arts Activist Person
Raised in South Korea, poet, essayist, and writer Chunhak Kwon (Cheonhak Kwon, 권천학) studied at the graduate school of Korea University [1]. Now she resides in Toronto, Canada.
She made her literary debut in the monthly literary journal Hyundai Munhak (현대문학). She was also a regular columnist for the newspapers 'Seoul Sinmun (서울신문) and Kwanak Munhwa Sinmun (관악문화신문).
Chnhak Kwon has published over 10 books, including Dictionary of Korean Proverbs and Quotations (속담명언사전), The Sky in Bronze Mirror (청동거울 속의 하늘) (poems about the ancient Korean kingdom of Baekje), "I am Still in an Apple Seed" (나는 아직 사과씨 속에 있다) (poems about trees), "Urgent News Bulletin! Mrs. Gaia is Sick in Bed" (긴급뉴스속보! 가이아 부인은 와병중) (poems about the environment), "Loneliness Virus" (고독바이러스), and “The Sorrow of Grass-green Vitamin, or...” (초록비타민의 서러움 혹은), (poems about the oceans).
She has also been the recipient of many literary awards, including the Modern Buddhism Literary Award (Grand Prize), the Si wa Euisik Literature Award (Main Prize) and the Kyung Hee University Overseas Korean Literary Award (Grand Prize).
Chunhak has served as Editor-in-chief of Blue Note, web magazine of the online Korean Literature Library.
Translations of her poems were published in a book entitled 2H2 + O2 = 2H2O, which went on to become the winner of the First Annual Min Chapbook Competition organized by Harvard University's Korea Institute and Tamal Vista Publications. Her poems and essays now continue to be regularly featured in Toronto Korean-language newspapers.
Work Experience
Chunhak Kwon is a regular columnist on website of The Solidarity for Implementing Judicial Justice (civilian social organization), South Korea, 2013-present. She was an instructor in the Korean Culture Lecture Series at the YMCA of Greater Toronto (North York Yonge Street YMCA Centre), Canada from March 2011 to February 2012.
As a Columnist, she has written for the Canada News Korean Real Estate Post (Toronto Edition), Canada, 2010-present; The Korea Times Daily (Toronto Edition), Canada, 2008-present.
As a Publisher, she was responsible for Hanguk Jeonja Munhak Toseogwan WebZine Blue Note (Korean Digital Literature Library WebZine Blue Note), South Korea from 2002 to 2007. Chunhak has served as Editor-in-Chief at Pullip Munhak (Pullip Literature), South Korea from 1995 to 1998 and Weolgan Eomeoni (Monthly Mother), South Korea from 1981 to 1984.
She was a Columnist for Seoul Newspaper, South Korea from 1980 to 1985 and Columnist/Editorialist, Gwanak Munhwa Sinmun (Gwanak Munhak Newspaper), South Korea from 1980 to 1984. Teacher, Soyang Middle School, South Korea, 1964-1968
Professional Membership
Chunhak Kwon is a member of the Korean Canadian Writers Association, Canada, 2011-present; PEN International (Korea), South Korea, 1990-present; Society of Korean Poets, South Korea, 1990-present; Jindan Si, South Korea, 1988-1995; Korean Writers Association, South Korea, 1970-present; and Munye Gajok (Literature Family), South Korea, 1969-present
Awards
Her many awards include the:
Grand Prize, Kyung Hee University Overseas Korean Literary Award for a short story, “Stuffed Cucumber Kimchi” (오이 소박이), South Korea, 2010;
Main Prize, Si wa Euisik Literature Award, South Korea, 1989;
Grand Prize, Modern Buddhism Literary Award, South Korea, 1987; Winner, KBS Drama Award for “Red flower in Sunset” (저녁노을 붉은 꽃), South Korea, 1978;
Winner, TBC Dongyang Bangsong Drama Award for “A String” (끈), South Korea, 1977
Winner, Yeoseong Jungang Literary Award for a short story, “The Windmill Turning Endlessly” (끊임없이 도는 풍차), South Korea, 1972
Winner, Yeoweon Literary Award for a short story, “Sand Castle” (모래성) (published as a supplement of the Yeoweon Magazine), South Korea, 1970
Selected Publications
In Journals:
Literary debut: “A-frame” (지게) and “A Journey to the Center of Life” (삶의 중심으로 떠나는 여행) in the monthly literary journal, Hyundai Munhak, 1990.
Series: Poetry on the theme of Oceans No. 1, “The Sorrow of Grass-green Vitamin, Or” (초록비타민의 서러움 혹은) featured in Si Munhak from the June 1994 issue to the May 1995 issue of Si Munhak.
Series: Poetry on the theme of Oceans No. 2, “Looking for a Lost Island” (잃어버린 섬을 찾아서) featured from the Summer 1995 to Spring 1996 issue of the quarterly journal of Sidae Munak.
Series: Poetry on the theme of Baekjae Kingdom, “The Sky in Bronze Mirror” (청동거울 속의 하늘) featured from the Summer 1996 issue to Spring 1997 issue of the quarterly journal of Sidae Munhak.
Books (Poetry): The Sorrow of Grass-green Vitamin, Or (초록비타민의 서러움 혹은), Munhak eui Jeondang, 2011 The Aphorism of Love (사랑의 아포리즘), Dacheung, 2003 The Sky in Bronze Mirror (청동거울 속의 하늘), Pureun Mulgyeol, 1998 I am Still in an Apple Seed (나는 아직 사과씨 속에 있다), Si Munhaksa, 1997 Urgent News Bulletin! Mrs. Gaia is Sick in Bed (긴급뉴스속보! 가이아 부인은 와병중), Ppuri Chulpansa, 1994 Loneliness Virus (고독 바이러스), Pullip Munhaksa, 1994 My Love, Secretly Planted in the Vegetable Garden, is… (텃밭에 심은 나의 사랑은), Sinweon Munhwasa, 1990 Silvery Fish Caught in a Net (그물에 갇힌 은빛 물고기), Momo, 1987
Books (Poetry – Translation):
Hana Kim (transl). 2H2 + O2 = 2H2O, Larkspur, CA: Tamal Vista Publications, 2011.
(This translation of Chunhak's poems was published in a book entitled, 2H2 + O2 = 2H2O which was the winner of the First Annual Min Chapbook Competition organized by Harvard University’s Korea Institute and Tamal Vista Publications.)
Book (Others):
Dictionary of Korean Proverb and Quotation (속담명언사전), Pullip Munhaksa, 1997.
Miscellaneous
Chunhak Kwon has even acted in a pitch reel for the proposed film, The Banquet, Canada, 2008