Yi Kwang-su

Yi Kwangsu (; February 1, 1892 – October 25, 1950) was a Korean writer, Korean independence activist, and later collaborator with Imperial Japan. Yi is best known for his novel (The Heartless), which is often described as the first modern Korean novel.

His art names were Ch'unwŏn and Koju. He adopted a Japanese name, Kayama Mitsurō .

Biography Yi Kwangsu was born on February 1, 1892 in Chŏngju, North Pyongan Province, Joseon. He was born into a poor yangban (upper class) family. He enrolled at a seodang (traditional school) in 1899. The declaration was publicly proclaimed. The declaration served as a catalyst for the nationwide March First Movement protests in Korea.

Personal life Yi had two younger sisters, Yi Aegyŏng and Yi Aeran .

In July 1910, Yi married for the first time at age 18, in what was possibly an arranged marriage to Paek Hyesun .

From the early 1920s to the 1930s, Yi transformed into a dedicated nationalist and published a controversial essay, "On the Remaking of National Consciousness", which advocated a moral overhaul of Korea and blamed Koreans for being defeatist. Yi has also been considered one of the pioneers of queer literature in Korea with the publishing of Is it Love (Ai ka) in 1909, when Yi was 17.