debuted, there were too many poems in Korea that over-emphasized on social commentary or were difficult to understand. In such a time, Lee Geunbae's works contributed towards the revival of traditional lyricism. Also, his later works often used historical figures as subject matter, laying out ‘historical imagination’ with lyrical melody. For example, in Chusareul humchida (추사를 훔치다 Stealing Chusa), by poetizing Kim Jeong-hui and Kim Byeong-yeon, two greats figures from the Joseon Dynasty, he summoned the long gone tradition and beauty of the past. Meanwhile, from a formal perspective, Lee Geunbae's sijo often mixes the forms of saseol sijo and pyeong sijo. How he is not bound within one form is a result of his critical mindset that wants to restructure the past from a modern perspective, despite his attachment to the things of the past. He attempts to have the spirit of a seonbi, possessing morality and generosity in a corrupt world. However, his ultimate goal is to have a poetic spirit like a sinseon's (a Taoist hermit with mystical powers), that "listens with the eyes, sees with the nose, and talks with the ears." As such, through his tranquil sijo, he has visualized the emptiness of the world, and the nature of humanity. His works are considered as literary instances where modern society and inner humanity were explored through the traditional form of sijo. Works Poetry collections Sarangeul yeonjuhaneun kkotnamu (사랑을 연주하는 꽃나무 The Flower Tree That Sings Love), 1960. Noraeyeo noraeyeo (노래여 노래여 A Song, a Song), MunhakSegyeSa, 1981 Hangang (한강 Han River), Goryeowon, 1985 Saramdeuli saega doego sipeun kkadalgeul anda (사람들이 새가 되고 싶은 까닭을 안다 I Know Why People Want to be Birds), MunhakSegyeSa, 2004 Jongsorineun kkeuteopsi saebyeokeul kkaeunda (종소리는 끝없이 새벽을 깨운다 The Bells Endlessly Awaken the Dawn), Donghaksa, 2006. Chusareul humchida (추사를 훔치다 Stealing Chusa), Moonhak Soochup, 2013. Awards 1983 Garam Sijo Literary Award 1987 Republic of Korea Writer Award 1987 Joongang Sijo Grand Prize, 1997 Yukdang Literature Prize 1999 Wolha Literature Prize 2000 Pyeon-un Literature Prize 2010 Gosan Literature Prize 2011 Manhae Prize 2015 Jeong Jiyong Literature Prize References Further reading O, Geodon, Bujakran-byeoruilgi-Lee Geunbae (부작란-벼루읽기-이근배), Sijo sihak 49, Goyoachim 2013. External links Naver People Search LTI Korea Moscow event 1940 births Living people 20th-century South Korean poets 21st-century South Korean poets South Korean male poets Jeong Jiyong Literature Prize winners Society of Korean Poets Award winners 20th-century male writers 21st-century male