'Calligraphy and literature are inseparable'

By Bae Eun-joo

Choi Yearn-hong

Poet Choi Yearn-hong proposed Thursday a new renaissance in calligraphy and literature, which he called two inseparable arts, by bringing calligraphers, poets and writers together.

At a forum held in Seoul, Dec. 1, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Iljoong Kim Choong-hyun’s death, Choi emphasized the history of calligraphy in China, Japan and Korea, and said that Koreans need to revive the traditional art.

Choi said that Koreans need to uphold the spirit of Iljoong, who created Korean calligraphy by using both Hangul and Chinese characters in the form of beautiful art.

“Poetry is expressed in calligraphy,” he said. “Both are the images of aesthetic values.”

Choi has compiled Iljoong’s major calligraphy works ranging from Korean classic literary works to modern poetry.

Poets Lee Kun-bae and Lee Geun-chung participated in the forum.