'Comment Poet' consoles marginalized people

Cover of “Do Not Use the Molten Iron”

By Park Jae-hyuk

In 2010, a comment written on an online news article went viral, touching the hearts of the public.

Titled, “Do Not Use the Molten Iron,” the comment mourned the tragic death of a 29-year-old factory worker, who accidentally fell into a 1,600–degree-Celsius furnace in Dangjin, South Chungcheong Province.

“A young man disappeared in flames,” the comment began. “Do not make cars, streetlamps, steel bars or needles with the molten iron.” It continued: “Shape his face with clay instead, and pour the molten iron on it. After cooling it down in the rain, erect it before the main gate.” said it concluded: “So that his mother can visit sometimes and touch her son’s face.”

The comment garnered more than 400 replies and about 2,000 “likes” at that time. One netizen said, “Anyone can write comments with warmth and sympathy, but no one has written before him.” Other netizens asked people to stop writing malicious comments online, which had been prevalent.

Known as the “Comment Poet” among netizens, the author, who describes himself as an ordinary office worker in his 40s, remains anonymous and has declined media interviews. Under the pen name “Geppetto,” the commenter published a poetry book, “Do Not Use the Molten Iron,” this summer, which compiles the comments he has written on more than 120 online news articles since 2010.

In the book’s preface, he said he wishes to write as a carpenter rounding off the edges of a piece of furniture.

Most of Geppetto’s comments have been written on news articles of tragic accidents of marginalized groups, including the poor, nonregular workers, disabled people and seniors living alone, in Korea.

“In collecting my comments, I realized again that so many tragedies have occurred around our world,” Geppetto also said on the book’s preface.

In 2014, he wrote several comments mourning the Sewol ferry disaster victims and their bereaved families.

“For the kids who are still unable to get ashore, please stop chirring. It is time for people to cry,” Geppetto wrote in a comment titled, “To a Cicada.”

The book also enables readers to appreciate more than 40 poems from his blog, where he continues to communicate with fans.

According to data from bookstores, the book has been one of the best-selling poetry books, surpassing the sales of other recently released poetry books by famous poets Ryu Geun and Oh Eun.

Some netizens said even after Geppetto’s book was published, they still go back to the news articles on which he wrote comments.

“More readers will likely buy the poetry book in the upcoming sentimental season, fall,” a book industry official said.

Experts said readers purchase the poetry book because they want to be consoled with short sentences, amid the numerous tragic events in Korean society, such as the tragic death of a subway worker in Guui station.

“Still, eight out of 10 comments are painful and sorrowful,” Geppetto wrote in his book. “However, I’m sure that I’ll be able to write about trivial matters soon, when everyone can live like decent human beings.”