Kang, Byeong-Cheol, writer, poet, translator, Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science, hailing from Korea, the Land of Morning Calm, shares his poem
Poet Mr. Kang Byeong-Cheol, a Korean author, poet, translator, is holder of a Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science degree. He was born in Jeju City, South Korea in 1964, and began his writing career in 1993. His first short story, “Song of Shuba,” was published when he was twenty-nine years old.
In 2005, Kang published a collection of short stories and has since won four literature awards, publishing over eight books in total. He was a member of The Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC) of PEN International from 2009 to 2014. From 2018 to 2022, he served as Secretary General of the Jeju Unification Education Center. Prior to that he was Specially Appointed Professor at Jeju International University from 2016 to 2018, a Research Professor at Chungnam National University National Defense Institute from 2013 to 2016, a Senior Researcher at the Society of Ieodo Research from 2010 to 2017, and CEO of Online News Media Jejuin News from 2010 to 2013.
Kang also works as an editorial writer for Jeminilbo, a newspaper in Jeju City, Korea. Currently, he holds the position of Vice President at The Korean Institute for Peace and Cooperation.
A Thought from Morocco
In a country where the sun sets,
The beautiful sunset makes me forget myself.
After witnessing the sun dip below the horizon in the desert,
I gaze up at the sky.
Brilliant stars pour into my eyes—
What a wonderful world.
In the desert, where camels walk, an oasis hides somewhere.
A stream winds through the Atlas Mountains,
Water flowing from the oasis,
Nurturing the land where date palms ripen.
Just as today, tomorrow too, the Star of Solomon will shine brightly.
***
모로코에서의 한 생각
해가 지는 나라에서
아름다운 노을이 나 자신을 잊게 하네
사막에서 지는 해를 본 후 하늘을 본다
저 찬란한 별들이 내 눈으로 쏟아지네
얼마나 멋진 세상인가!
낙타들이 걷는 사막, 어딘가에는 오아시스가 있다.
아틀라스산맥을 따라 흐르는 물줄기
오아시스에서 물이 솟아 흐르고
대추야자가 익어가는 땅
오늘처럼, 내일도, 솔로몬의 별은 찬란히 빛나리라
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