Foreword- Dong ju Yun(1917-1945)

 

Wishing not to have so much as a speck of shame toward heaven until the day I die,

죽는_날까지_하늘을_우러러_한점_부끄럼이_없기를,

jugneun_nalkkaji_haneul-eul_uleoleo_hanjeom_bukkeuleom-i_eobsgileul, 

wish(바라다), shame(부끄럼), heaven(하늘), die(죽다) 

I suffered, even when the wind stirred the leaves.

잎새에_이는_바람에도_나는_괴워로했다

ipsaee_ineun_balam-edo_naneun_goelowohaetda 

suffered(괴롭다), wind(바람), stirred(약간 흔들리다), leave(잎)

With my heart singing to the stars, I shall love all things that are dying.

별을_노래하는_마음으로,_모든_죽어가는_것을_사랑해야지

byeol-eul_nolaehaneun_ma-eum-eulo,_modeun_jug-eoganeun_geos-eul_salanghaeyaji 

heart(심장), sing(노래하다), star(별), love(사랑), dying(죽어가는)

And I must walk the road that has been given to me.

그리고_나한테_주어진_길을_걸어가야겠다

geuligo_nahante_jueojin_gil-eul_geol-eogayagetda

walk(걷다), road(길) 

Tonight, again, the stars are brushed by the wind.

오늘_밤에도_별이_바람에_스치운다

oneul_bam-edo_byeol-i_balam-e_seuchiunda 

tonight(오늘밤), brushed(스치다)

-> During the Japanese colonial period, there was a Korean poet and independence activist who actively resisted without engaging in direct armed struggle. He reflected on his unwavering resistance to compromise his principles and expressed the anguish of life through his poetry. His journey, shaped by his experience of studying in Japan, seemed to diverge from the path the nation should take, and he expressed his shame in this regard.

While Yun Dong-ju is primarily known as a poet, examining the trial documents that were publicly released in 2010 reveals many surprising aspects. Yun Dong-ju remained steadfast and composed even in front of the infamous special courts and Japanese judges. The image of a meek and embarrassed poet disappeared, replaced by the image of a resolute independence fighter who passionately discussed his aspirations for Korean independence and strategies for achieving it in the presence of prosecutors. The court records of Yun Dong-ju indicate that he actively deliberated on concrete movement plans to invigorate national consciousness and achieve independence.

Despite his short life, Yun Dong-ju made significant contributions to Korean literary history through his unique sensitivity, contemplation of life, and hope for independence. Moreover, starting from the 1930s, as Japanese oppression and coercion intensified, leading many writers to surrender or become pro-Japanese, Yun Dong-ju, along with Lee Yook-sa, is revered as a national poet who did not falter in his loyalty to his people.