Yi Sang

Kim Haegyŏng (Korean: 김해경; Hanja: 金海卿; September 23, 1910 – April 17, 1937), better known by his pen name Yi Sang (이상; 李箱), was a Korean writer and poet during the period of Japanese colonial rule. Although primarily recognized for his poetry, he did not receive formal training in Korean literature or creative writing. Instead, he studied architecture at Gyeongseong Industrial High School (경성고등공업학교; 京城高等工業專門學校) from 1926 to 1929. In 1933, after being diagnosed with tuberculosis, he left his position as a public official and opened a café, where he remained active in literary circles, particularly through his involvement with the Guinhoe (구인회; 九人會; "Group of Nine"). He passed away in Japan in April 1937.

He is best known for his poems and novels, including '''Crow's Eye View and The Wings'''. Among these, Crow's Eye View faced strong criticism at the time of its publication, with many readers questioning whether it could even be considered poetry. In a memorial essay, fellow poet Park Tae-won noted that people referred to Crow's Eye View as "the sleep talk of a lunatic." Yi Sang's writings often incorporate scientific symbols and terminology and are known for their complex and experimental structure, making them challenging to interpret. His work features frequent use of wordplay, particularly with homonyms, and even visual elements such as drawings. He is widely regarded as a pivotal and revolutionary figure in modern Korean literature. Provided by Wikipedia