Korean Language Scholar Seo Dies
By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter
Seo Jeong-beom, a well-known scholar in Korean language studies and an essayist, passed away from an old age in Seoul, Tuesday. He was 83.
Born in 1926 in Eumseong, North Chungcheong Province, the professor emeritus at Kyung Hee University graduated from the school's Korean Language and Literature Department and obtained his doctorate there.
He was the inaugural chief of the Society of Korean Etymology, vice director general at the Korean Writers Association, and vice head of the Korea Essayists Association.
Seo entered into the literary world in 1958 through a literary magazine and received dozens of awards in his lifetime.
The scholar has devoted himself to studying Korean etymology, comparing Korean with Mongolian, Turkish and Manchu languages. He also contributed to the nation's shamanism studies by interviewing more than 300 shamans and publishing a book about them.
Seo also gained popularity with a series of humorous books in the 1980s.
He was survived by a son and two daughters. A memorial service is being held at Kyung Hee University Medical Center until 8 a.m. Friday. He will be interred in his family's burial ground in his hometown. For more information, call (02) 958-9548.