I know
Where beauty
Comes from.
Ms. Yang Geum-Hee (梁琴姬) is an acclaimed poetess from Korea
Poetess Ms. Yang Geum-Hee, born in 1967 in Jeju, Korea, has published four poetry collections and received eight literary awards in recognition of her contributions to literature. Nests of Birds (a bilingual English-Korean edition) and an essay collection titled A Happy Companion on the Journey. In acknowledgment of her extensive contributions to international literature, she was awarded an honorary doctorate by the International Forum for Creativity and Humanity (President Dr. Aziz Mountassir) in the Kingdom of Morocco in March 2025. Poet Ms. Yang was Editor-in-Chief of Jejuin News, a researcher at the Jeju Sea Grant Center, a specially appointed professor at Jeju International University, and the second President of the Korean Association of World Literature. She currently serves as an editorial writer for Samda Ilbo, President of Jeju PEN, and Vice President of the Korean Peace Cooperation. I am also a member of the Consortium of Distinguished Scholars under the International Academy of Ethics.
Her poetry has been translated into multiple languages and introduced in countries including the United States, China, Japan, Germany, Russia, Italy, Spain, England, Taiwan, Nepal, Egypt, Greece, Pakistan, Vietnam, Albania, Bangladesh, Kosovo, Tajikistan, Belgium, and beyond.
She was selected for “PRIZES 2025: The International Best Poets & Translators,” jointly organized by the International Poetry Translation and Research Centre, the Chinese quarterly literary 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 world-renowned literary magazine published in Spain and the United States.
The Source of Beauty
The Source of BeautyI know
Where beauty
Comes from.
On an ordinary
Wooden board,
Your heart
Was drawn.
With green paint,
Lush summer camellia leaves,
Layered thickly;
With paint redder than cherries,
Three camellia flowers.
In one corner,
Very softly,
You left these words:
— You, fair as a flower
A radiant carved painting:
The calligraphy is graceful,
The image is gentle,
Yet fairer still
Is the heart
You carved into it
A beautiful spring of water
Flows out
From your heart.
***
아름다움의 근원
나는 안다
아름다움이
어디서 오는지
평범한
나무판자 하나에
너의 마음이
그려졌다는 걸
초록 물감으로
여름 동백잎
무성히 얹고
앵두보다 붉은 물감으로
동백꽃
세 송이
귀퉁이에
아주 작게
글을 남겼다
― 꽃처럼 고운 당신
눈부신 서각화
글씨도 곱고
그림도 고우나
그보다 더 고운 것은
그려 넣은
너의 마음
아름다운 샘물은
너의 마음에서
흘러나왔다
__________________
