Yang Geum-Hee – A distinguished Korean poet

nasiraijaz March 24, 2026

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Ms. Yang is a member of the Consortium of Distinguished Scholars of the International Academy of Ethics and holds an honorary doctorate in recognition of her contributions to integrating literature, ethics, and peace philosophy

Ms. Yang Geum-Hee is a distinguished Korean poet and literary activist whose work has played a vital role in broadening the horizons of Korean literature and promoting a culture of peace, particularly from her native island of Jeju. Since her literary debut in Simunhak (Poetry Literature Monthly), she has remained a leading voice in both creative writing and cultural discourse. She served as the second President of the Korean Association of World Literature, where she significantly advanced international literary exchange. Her leadership also includes roles as Deputy Director of Culture and Arts at the Korea Institute for Peace and Cooperation, President of Jeju PEN, and Chair of the Jeju Chapter of the Korean Poetry Literature Writers’ Association.

Yang Geum-Hee-Sindh Courier-2 Ms. Yang is a member of the Consortium of Distinguished Scholars of the International Academy of Ethics and holds an honorary doctorate in recognition of her contributions to integrating literature, ethics, and peace philosophy. She has worked as an editorial writer for Samda Daily, a director of the Korean Ethical Studies Association, and a special researcher at Jeju National University, continually linking academic inquiry with social engagement. Her public service includes membership in the 8th and 9th Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Committee of Jeju Province, serving as a special professor at Jeju International University, and acting as Editor-in-Chief of Jejuin News, where she led the development of regional cultural content.

Her dedication to peace and unification education is reflected in her work as a researcher at the Jeju Sea Grant Center, 13th President of the Jeju Regional Committee of PEN International Korea, Research Secretary of the Jeju Peace and Unification Forum, advisor to the National Unification Advisory Council (18th–20th terms), and Unification Education Commissioner under the Ministry of Unification (21st–23rd terms). She is also a founding member of “World Cavafy Day,” established under UNESCO sponsorship, contributing to the global appreciation of Modern Greek poetry.

Internationally, Ms. Yang has served as a judge for the International Literary Competition “Literary Asia–2024, 2025,” and as an evaluator for youth leadership and media projects. Her poetry has been widely published in global anthologies and journals, including Let the Wind Blow, O Goddesses (Japan International Poets Association), THE AsiaN (English and Arabic editions), Le Donne Gemme Poetiche Globali, Whispers across Languages, Women’s Literature Magazine (USA), The Bird’s Nest (Taiwan), the Arabic anthology Qasr Al-Shuaraa, India’s Raft of Dreams, and the joint Egypt–UK volume Dylan Thomas 2023–2025. Her work also appears in 100 Celebrities Talk for Paralympic by the Maria Monique Last Wish Foundation.

She has actively participated in international interviews and cultural exchanges, including an interview for the Azerbaijan Ministry of Culture’s literary portal; inclusion in The Unwritten Chapter, an interview collection featuring fifteen authors; participation in Uzbekistan’s “50 Writers” project; cultural exchange programs with Greece; and appearing as the cover model of the Venezuelan literary magazine Humanity. Her global presence continues through participation in the Formosa International Poetry Festival in Taiwan, lectures in France, and academic presentations in Uzbekistan.

Ms. Yang’s published works include the poetry collections Happiness Account, Ieodo: The Island of Legend and Existence, Nests of Birds (Taiwan edition), and the bilingual English–Korean Nests of Birds. She is also the author of the essay collection Happy Companion and the translator of PREKAZ: Legacy of the Brave – He Lives On. Her literary achievements have been recognized with numerous national and international awards, as well as commendations from the Prime Minister of Korea, the Governor of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, and the Speaker of the Jeju Provincial Council.

Her poetry has been translated into many languages and introduced across the world, including in the United States, China, Russia, Germany, Greece, Italy, Taiwan, Vietnam, Nepal, Pakistan, India, Mexico, Egypt, Albania, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Bangladesh, Spain, Belgium, Tajikistan, and Argentina, firmly establishing her as a global literary voice.

In 2025, she was selected for “PRIZES 2025: The International Best Poets & Translators,” jointly organized by the International Poetry Translation and Research Centre, the Chinese quarterly journal The Journal of Rendition of International Poetry, and the Board of Directors of the World Union of Poetry Magazines. She was also named one of the “100 Most Influential Literary Figures of 2025” by Barcelona Magazine, a prestigious literary magazine published in Spain and the United States.

In recognition of her outstanding contributions to the global literary movement and her efforts to bring the cultures of Kazakhstan and Korea closer together, the LHC Board of the International Commonwealth of People’s Diplomacy (ICND) of Kazakhstan awarded her the international order “Kazakhstan 560 Years.” Furthermore, at the event titled “2025 Year-End Gathering – The Light of Culture, Illuminating People,” hosted by Culture & People, Professor Yang Geum-Hee was honored with the Culture and Arts Grand Prize, the highest award presented to an individual who has made exceptional achievements and significant contributions to the development of culture and the arts in Korea and abroad in 2025.

Here is one of her latest poems.