Novelist Chung Eul-byeong Dies of Cancer at 75
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter
Chung Eul-byeong, a novelist and former representative of the Korean Novelists' Association, died last Wednesday after losing his battle with liver cancer. He was 75.
Yonhap News Agency reported Chung was diagnosed with liver cancer three years ago. A wake was held at the Sinchon Severance Hospital before he was buried Friday. His bereaved family, close friends and members of the Korean Novelists' Association attended the funeral.
According to the Korean Novelists' Association and Chung's friends, the late novelist focused on his writing and lived a secluded life after his retirement.
Chung was born in Namhae, South Gyeongsang Province. He debuted through the monthly literature magazine ``Contemporary Literature'' in 1961. He wrote various novels such as ``Gaesaekkideul'' (``Sons of Bitches'' tentative) and ``Dopiyeohaeng'' (``Escapade'' tentative).
The novelist has won various awards such as the Modern Literature Award in 1967, South Korea Literary Fiction Prize (1976) and Republic of Korea Literary Award (1987). Chung was also vice president of the Korean branch of International Pen, a worldwide association of writers. He was also involved in the East West Literature weekly magazine, and was vice-president of the South Korea Copyright Association.
Chung is survived by a daughter and his son-in-law.
Korea Times intern Hwang Sung-hee contributed to this article.