90 Years of "Sangnoksoo": Rediscovering the Life and Literature of Sim Hun

National Literature Museum of Korea and Dangjin Literature Museum to Hold Academic Conference and Book Concert on September 12
Event Linked to Special Exhibition "The Heart of Evergreen: Walking Through 90 Years of Records"

The National Museum of Korean Literature and the Dangjin Literature Museum will hold a scholarly conference and opening event on September 12 at the Dangjin Literature Museum to shed light on the life and literary world of novelist Sim Hun. This event has been organized to commemorate the special exhibition "The Heart of Evergreen, Walking Through 90 Years of Records," which will run for a month from September 1.

The National Museum of Korean Literature has selected novelist Sim Hun (1901–1936) as the “Literary Figure of the Month” for September. Sim Hun depicted the realities of the Japanese colonial period and the lives of the common people through works such as Sangnoksoo. National Museum of Korean Literature

Sim Hun was not only a novelist and poet, but also worked as a filmmaker and journalist, expressing the realities of the Japanese colonial period and the lives of the people through various cultural activities. His representative work, Sangnoksoo, is regarded as a major piece of modern Korean literature that depicts rural enlightenment and the practical life of youth.

The event will be divided into morning and afternoon sessions. The morning scholarly conference, under the theme "Sim Hun in the History of Korean Literature: Life, Artistic Spirit, and Reappraisal of Literary Heritage," will comprehensively examine Sim Hun’s life and philosophy, his struggle for independence, and his literary, cinematic, and journalistic pursuits. The session will include presentations and comprehensive debates on his cultural legacy, biography, life, and accomplishments, a Q&A session, as well as a photo exhibition showcasing his cultural heritage.

From 2 p.m., the opening ceremony will take place along with a music performance and a book concert. Soprano Go Jina and tenor Kim Byungjin will perform, and Professor Jeong Moonseok and novelist Kim Jonggwang will participate in the book concert. Announcer Lee Chaeyu will recite Sim Hun’s poem, "When That Day Comes," and at the end, the performers and attendees will sing Yang Hee-eun’s "Sangnoksoo" together.

The event is open to any citizen interested in literature. In addition, the National Museum of Korean Literature has selected Sim Hun as the "Literary Figure of the Month" for September, and plans to introduce his life and literary achievements in more detail.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.