By Cho Jae-hyon
Staff Reporter
A former Korean ambassador to Nigeria has published a collection of poems both in Korean and English ― a resume of soul-searching songs he has sung over the last four decades as a diplomat and writer.
"It's been nearly 40 years since I debuted as a poet in February 1970 with a recommendation from the late poet Park Doo-jin. I came to release a collection of poems selected among those I've written over the last four decades," said Lee Dong-jin, 64, in a telephone interview with The Korea Times, Monday.
A publication ceremony will be held for the anthology of his poems, titled "Songs of My Soul," at the Seoul Press Center on Thursday.
Recommended by the late poet Park Doo-jin (1916-1998), his poem was first published in a literary magazine, Hyundae Moonhak (Modern Literature), in February 1970.
He passed the state exam to become a diplomat, joined the foreign ministry in 1969 and since then has worked as a career diplomat, before retiring in 2000.
While working as a diplomat, he was prolific, writing many poems, novels and plays. He has also translated many English novels and other works into Korean. He has published more than 130 books, including six novels, five plays, 21 poem collections and other translation works.
How was it possible for a diplomat to publish so many works? Didn't his literary zeal interfere with his main job? No, the poet said.
Lee said he has never written a single line for his literary works at an embassy desk.
"While I worked as a diplomat, I saved sleeping hours to write. That's why I was able to work as a diplomat for the last 33 years without being sacked," he said. "I still work day and night, excluding eating and sleeping hours. I slept just three hours yesterday."
Lee said his experience as a diplomat and 20 years of overseas stays has been a big plus to his works. "I met many people, and travelled a lot as a diplomat. It's obviously been an important influence on my work," he said.
"Songs of My Soul" is comprised of about 400 he picked from his past, as well as undisclosed poems. It is segmented into five chapters in the Korean edition and four in the English version.
"I translated the first four chapters for the English version. I had no time to translate the last chapter," Lee said.
From the anger and agonies he has felt from the 1960s, the epic, biographical anthology encompasses his travels around the world and his political, social and diplomatic views of Korean society.
Lee, also the publisher for Haenuri publishing company, said he wants to write and introduce as many books as possible. "There is a time for a diplomat to retire. But as a writer, I will retire when I retire from life. I want to write until the end of my life."