Kim Chi-ha

Kim Jiha or Kim Chi-ha (; born Kim Yeongil ; 4 February 1941 – 8 May 2022) was a South Korean poet and playwright.

Biography Kim Jiha was born Kim Yeongil on 4 February 1941 in Mokpo, Zenranan Province, Korea, Empire of Japan (now South Jeolla Province, South Korea). As a university student, Kim took part in April Revolution demonstrations that toppled the regime of South Korean President Syngman Rhee in April 1960. In March 1963, under the pen name Kim Jiha, he published the poem "Evening Story" (Jeonyeok iyagi) in the journal Mokpo Literature. In 1964, Kim took part in the demonstrations against the normalization treaty establishing diplomatic relations with Japan, for which he was briefly arrested. In 1966, he graduated with a degree in Aesthetics from Seoul National University. He made his official literary debut in 1969.

Kim first came to widespread attention in May 1970 with his poem Five Bandits, which led to him being arrested under the Anti-Communist Law, though the poem says nothing about either communism or North Korea. The title of Five Bandits is a reference to the "Five Traitors" who signed the treaty turning Korea into a Japanese protectorate in 1905. In Five Bandits, Kim described how about "ten years ago" the eponymous bandits came to dominate South Korea, rapaciously devouring everything as they set out to loot the country.

After accusing the regime of extracting false confessions with the use of torture, he was tried and sentenced to death in 1974, which was commuted to a life sentence and eventual release following a public outcry. When he further accused the government of using torture to get confessions in the 1974 People's Revolutionary Party case, he was once again sent to prison and his life sentence renewed. He was subject to torture himself.

Work From his first collection, The Yellow Earth, to his collection of lyrical poetry, Looking up at a Starry Field, Kim has displayed a broad literary range including both narrative and lyrical poems, ballads, taeseol, drama, and prose. His works also cover the full gamut of religious thought and philosophy, from the Donghak, to the Catholic, Jeungsan, Avatamska, Zen, and Maitraya tradition. a leper, the most despised outcast class in Korea, encounters the imprisoned Jesus. Jesus tells the leper that he must help liberate Him. By helping the poor, the gold crown of Jesus will be removed and His lips freed to speak.

Awards and honors 1975 Lotus Prize for Literature 1981 'Grand Poet Prize' at the International Poets' Conference.

Works in translation "Aufgehen der Knospe" (German Language) Heart's Agony: Selected Poems of Chiha Kim (1998) Cry of the People and Other Poems (1974) The Middle Hour: Selected Poems (1980) The Gold-Crowned Jesus and Other Writings (1978) Five Thieves (Thai translation by Jiranant Phitpreecha in 1989)

Works The Yellow Earth, With a Burning Thirst, South (Nam) Love Thy Neighbor 1-2 (Aerin 1-2) Black Mountain, White Room (Geomeun san hayan bang) A Rain Cloud in These Days of Drought (I gamun nare bigureum) My Mother (Naui eomeoni) Looking up at a Starry Field (Byeolbateul ureoreumyeo) The Agony of the Center (Jungsimui goeroum) Rice (Bap) Boat Songs of the South Land (Namnyeokttang baennorae) Livelihood (Sallim)