KIM SO-WOL AND NGUYEN BINH KINDRED SOULS OF THE SAME SORROW

Abstract

Kim So-wol and Nguyen Binh are poets living and writing in special ages of North Korean[1] and Vietnamese literature: the first steps of literature modernization process which was full of success. They are strangely alike in poetry talent, in melancholy, and in the death by the beginning of spring. Their very sad life together with their poetry genius is witness for the marvellous meeting of the two oriental poets.

Their background tendency is firm dependence on tradition, and imitation of beautiful melody from national folk-songs to inspire the writing. They resemble each other in the way they create passionate modern folk-songs of the same consonance and upright hearts, desperate wrench of painful love, and sorrowful songs of the road.

Through their masterpieces with deep prints in readers’ minds, Kim So-wol and Nguyen Binh nurture poetry veins toward tradition and assert the value of that style in the face of changes of history and literature.

[1] The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)