| Birth Date: | 10 September 1937 | ||||||||||
| Birth Place: | Tokyo, Japan | ||||||||||
| Language: | Korean | ||||||||||
| Nationality: | South Korean | ||||||||||
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Kwon Jeong Saeng (September 10, 1937 – May 17, 2007) (Hangul: Korean: 권정생) was a South Korean writer.[1]
Kwon Jeong Saeng was born Kwon Gyeongsu in Tokyo, Japan in 1937. Shortly after the Liberation in 1946, he returned to Korea. Because he was extremely poor, Kwon never received a formal education, instead traveling Korea while working as a clerk, and sometimes resorting to betting to support himself. In 1967 Kwon settled in Andong, Gyeongsangbuk-do as a church caretaker. His first publication, “Puppy Poo” (Korean: 강아지 똥,) appeared in 1969 in Christian Education (Korean: 기독교 교육,); in 1971, his story “Lamb’s Shadow Ttallangi” (Korean: 아기 양의 그림자 딸랑이,) was chosen as one of the winners of a spring literary contest sponsored by Daegu Maeil Sinmun, and in 1973, “Mommy and Cotton Jacket” (Korean: 무명 저고리와 엄마,) was selected by Chosun Ilbo for its literary contest.
Kwon fell ill in his later years, and made a will that left all of his royalties to charities, including some in North Korea, Asia, and Africa. He also requested that his cottage be destroyed, or left to nature, and wanted his body cremated and spread on the mountains behind his home.[2]
The Literature Translation Institute of Korea summarizes Kown's work:[3]
In 1996, Kwon's work "Puppy Poo" was turned into a successful children's picture book.
Children's books
Essays