Claudia Lee Hae-in
Claudia Lee Hae-in (Korean: 이해인, born 7 June 1945) is a South Korean Catholic nun, poet, and essayist. She has sold almost two million copies of her books of poetry and been regarded as "Korea's next contender for the Nobel Prize in Literature" after the poet Ko Un and novelist Hwang Sok-yong.[1][2][3]
Claudia Lee Hae-in | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Lee Myung-sook (baptismal name: Velladetta) 7 June 1945 Yanggu County, Gangwon, South Korea |
| Language | Korean |
| Alma mater | |
| Genre | Poetry, essays |
| Notable awards |
|
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 이해인 |
| Hanja | 李海仁 |
| Revised Romanization | Lee Haein |
| McCune–Reischauer | Lee Haein |
| Website | |
| Olivetan Benedictine Sisters | |
Biography
Lee Hae-in was born on 7 June 1945, in Yanggu County, Gangwon to Catholic parents, Lee Dae-young and Kim Sun-ok. Three days after she was born, she was baptized Catholic with the name Velladetta. At a very young age, she displayed immense literary talent. At the outbreak of the Korean War on 25 June 1950, her father was detained and taken to North Korea and the remaining family were forced to flee to Busan, South Korea.[4][5]
After completing her secondary education, she entered religious life in 1964 as an Olivetan Benedictine Sister in Busan. She pronounced her first vows in 1968 and perpetual vows in 1976.[4][5] She graduated with a degree in English from the Saint Louis University in Baguio, Philippines.[5]
From 1992 to 1997, she was appointed as the General-Secretary of her order in Korea. She was diagnosed with rectal cancer in 2008, and after receiving medical treatments, has returned to good health.[6] In 2015, fake news spread on the internet claiming the nun had died, which she jokingly ignored by saying, "I could forgive the fake news, but I can't go easy on the fake poem."[5][6]
She had solid friendship with the poet Park Wan-suh and the Venerable Buddhist monk Beopjeong, whom she both noted as having greatly influenced her in life and works.[1][2][5]
Writing
Poetry
(translated by Suhyun Ahn)
Every day, a dandelion writes a poem in the spring sky,
For it feels empty to untangle the long string of thoughts
That has been twined in secret.
When it lets down its white hair and spreads the thin seeds into the air
For there is a long way to go with its crippled body,
Even the dancing butterflies step aside.
On its forehead, putting happiness as tiny as a flower seed,
It does not regret giving its heart to the sun.
After pondering alone, after counting stars alone,
The dandelion blossoms again from the earth, from the sky.
Lee made her debut as a poet with the poem "Flower Shovel" in the Catholic Journal Soyeon in 1970. The poem was a conversation with a natural occurrence based on her daily experiences.[1] Her reputation as a poet grew following the publication in 1976 of her first collection of poems titled, The Land of Dandelions. She became known for her works because of its clarity and simplicity, and its usage of plain Korean language with deep-seated messages and meanings which makes the readers reflect.[1]
Other inspiring collections of Lee's poetry and essays include; Light a Fire in My Soul (1979), The Face of Time (1989), A Little Prayer (2011), Happiness of Waiting (2018) and As If Leaves Are Seen After Flowers Fall (2011). Her poem "The Love Song of a Dandelion" which is a reflection on both consolation and hope appeared in Korean middle school text books.[1][2]
From 1998 to 2002, she carried out her missionary works through a literary forum called "Hae-in's Writing Room" and delivered a series of lectures in various parts of the country on the theme "Poetry and Spirituality in Life."[5]
Awards and recognitions
She has received six awards for her outstanding contributions to literature:
- 1981: New Sprouts Literary Award
- 1985: Donga Women's Prize
- 1985: Busan Women's Literature Award
- 2004: Woollim Arts Award
- 2006: Cheong Sang-beong Literary Award
- 2016: Gumin Award
Publications
From an early age, Lee Hae-in was passionate about writing and as a Catholic nun explored the significant connections between poetry and spirituality. She has published 17 collections of poetry and 12 books on essays, which are included in high school textbooks.[5]
Poetry collections
- The Land of Dandelions 《민들레의 영토》 (1976, Catholic Books Publishing)
- Light A Fire in my Soul 《내 혼에 불을 놓아》 (1979, Bundo Books)
- If I Rise as a Half-Moon Today 《오늘은 내가 반달로 떠도》 (1979, Bundo Books)
- The Face of Time 《시간의 얼굴》 (1989, Bundo Books)
- Mommy and the Sunflower 《엄마와 분꽃》 (1992, Bundo Books)
- To Be an Empty House in a Secluded Village 《외딴 마을의 빈집이 되고 싶다》 (1999, Yolimwon Publishing)
- I Can't Wear Other Clothes 《다른 옷은 입을 수가 없네》 (1999, Yolimwon Publishing)
- Small Comfort 《작은 위로》 (2002, Yolimwon Publishing)
- Small Joy 《작은 기쁨》 (2007, Yolimwon Publishing)
- Mom 《엄마》 (2008, Samtoh Publishing)
- Hope Is Awake 《희망은 깨어있네》 (2010, Mind Walk Books)
- A Little Prayer 《작은기도》 (2011, Yolimwon Publishing)
- Hae-in Lee Poems 《이해인 시전집》 (2013, Literary Thought)
- Like a Camelia When It Blooms and Withers 《필 때도 질 때도 동백꽃처럼》 (2014, Mind Walk Books)
- Whenever We Love Each Other, It's Always Spring 《서로 사랑하면 언제라도 봄》 (2015, Yellimul Publishing)
- To a Friend 《친구에게》 (2019, Samtoh Publishing)
- Like a Single Petal 《꽃잎 한 장처럼》 (2022, Samtoh Publishing)
Essays
- Durebak 《두레박》 (1986, Bundo Books)
- Flower Shovel 《꽃삽》 (1994, Samtoh Publishing)
- When You Love, You Become a Star 《사랑할 땐 별이 되고》 (1997, Samtoh Publishing)
- Like a Flower That Speaks With Its Scents 《향기로 말을 거는 꽃처럼》 (2002, Spring Co.)
- The Window Where Happiness Rests 《기쁨이 열리는 창》 (2004, Mind Walk Books)
- Flower Pots 《풀꽃 단상》 (2006, Bundo Books)
- Love Is A Lonely Struggle 《사랑은 외로운 투쟁》 (2006, Mind Walk Books)
- As If Leaves Are Seen After Flowers Fall 《꽃이 지고 나면 잎이 보이듯이》 (2011, Samtoh Publishing)
- A Kind Heart Becomes a Flower, A Kind Word Becomes a Light 《고운 마음 꽃이 되고 고운 말은 빛이 되고》 (2018, Spring Co.)
- Happiness of Waiting 《기다리는 행복》 (2018, Samtoh Publishing)
- Don't Miss That Love 《그 사랑 놓치지 마라》 (2019, Samtoh Publishing)
- Lee Hae-in's Words 《이해인의 말》 (2020, Mind Walk Books)
Autobiography
- Insights for a Good Life and Relationships; The Word of Understanding 《좋은 삶과 관계를 위한 통찰력; 이해의 말씀》
See also
References
- Choe Chong-dae (22 February 2021). "A beloved poet". The Korea Times. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
- Chung Ah-young (1 April 2011). "Leaves chants gratitude for life, hope". The Korea Times. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
- Nawaid Anjum (6 October 2022). "Who will win the 2022 Nobel Prize for Literature?". thefederal.com. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
- "About Poetry and Life, with Sister Claudia Hae-in Lee". Asian Women's Christian Association. 20 February 2015. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
- Rock Ronald Rozario (4 February 2021). "Korean nun spreads Gospel with prayer and poetry". UCA News. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
- Park Jin-hai (22 December 2017). "'After fighting cancer, I speak about happiness more'". The Korea Times. Retrieved 21 September 2022.