Oh Sangwon

Oh Sangwon was a South Korean writer and journalist.

Life

Oh Sangwon was born on November 5, 1930, in Seoncheon, Pyeonganbuk-do, Korea. Oh graduated from Seoul National University with a B.A. in French and worked as an editorial writer for the Dong-a Ilbo. Oh died in 1985.

In 1953, his play Corroding Fragments (Nokseuneun papyeon) won the Association for New Theater (Singeuk hyeobuihoe) contest. Oh debuted as a writer in 1955 when his short story "A Respite" (Yuye) was published in the Hankook Ilbo.

In the 1970s, he shifted his attention away from creative writing to focus on a career in journalism, working as a reporter and editorialist for the Dong-a Ilbo. During this time, he published fabular satires of contemporary events. Political and social fables such as “The Old Fox” (Neulgeun yeou), “The King's Molar” (Imgeumnimui eogeumni), and “The Rabbit's Eyes” (Tokkiui nun) are collected in Oh Sangwon’s Fables (Oh Sangwon uhwa). In the 1980s, he published semi-autobiographical short stories such as “Mountains” (San) and “The Overlapping Past” (Gyeopchin gwageo). He died on December 3, 1985.

Works in translation A Respite in A Respite and other Korean Short Stories

Works in Korean (partial) Novels Records on White Papers (1958) Short Stories A Betrayal A Respite Period Reality Contempt Mountains The Overlapping Past Fables Oh Sanwon's Fables

Awards Dong-in Literary Award (1958)