고은 高銀
Poet and novelist, author of Maninbo (Ten Thousand Lives)
| Life | 1933 |
| Era | 현대 |
| Clan | 제주 고씨 |
Life & career
Ko Un (高銀, born 1933) is a poet and novelist born in Okgu County (now Gunsan), North Jeolla, of the Jeju Go clan. His birth name is Ko Eun-tae and Ko Un is his pen name. He entered a monastery around 1952, returned to lay life in 1962, and debuted through Hyundae Munhak in 1958.
His works include the poetry collections Pian Gamseong (1960) and Going to Munui Village (1974), the serial poem Maninbo (1986-2010), the novel Hwaeomgyeong (1991) and a biography of Han Yong-un. He founded the journal Silcheon Munhak in 1980 and was active in social causes. Awards include the Korean Literature Writers' Prize (1974), Manhae Literature Prize for Maninbo (1988), the Eungwan Order of Cultural Merit (2002), Norway's Bjornson Order (2005), Sweden's Cikada Prize (2006), Yeongnang Poetry Prize (2007) and the Golden Wreath (2014).
He has been endowed professor at Dankook University and held posts at Kyonggi, Chung-Ang and Seoul National universities. In 2018 the poet Choi Young-mi publicly alleged sexual harassment and further claims followed. Ko Un denied the allegations and sued Choi, the poet Park Jin-seong and a newspaper for damages, but lost at first instance in February 2019; the appeal was dismissed and he gave up his final appeal in December 2019. A 10 million won damages award in connection with Park Jin-seong was upheld. The philosopher Go Hyeong-gon, also from Okgu, is of the same clan.
Monastic Life and Debut
He became a monk around 1952 and left in 1962; in between he debuted in 1958. His early collection Pian Gamseong appeared in 1960.
Maninbo and Social Engagement
Maninbo is a serial poem running from 1986 to 2010. He also founded Silcheon Munhak in 1980 and engaged in social causes.
Controversy from 2018
When harassment allegations surfaced in 2018 he denied them, but lost the lawsuit and the judgment became final. A balanced account holds his literary achievement and this ruling together; details of the claims are not covered here.