Park So-ran's poetry collection "Words Close to the Heart" has received the Poetry Commendation Award at the 56th Modern Korean Literature Translation Awards. The collection, translated by Ketevani Barbakadze, showcases contemporary Korean poetry through masterful English translation that captures the emotional depth and linguistic nuances of Park's original work.

The award-winning collection features eleven carefully selected poems that explore themes of absence, longing, and human connection. The poems included in the collection are "A Song Is Nothing," "Absence," "Naphthalene," "I'm Hungry," "Little Girl," "Address," "A Trite Day," "The Room of Chance Encounter," "Blue Night," and "The Room of Weeping." Each piece demonstrates Park So-ran's distinctive poetic voice and her ability to transform everyday experiences into profound literary expressions.

One of the standout pieces, "Absence," exemplifies the collection's emotional intensity and vivid imagery. The poem begins with the speaker peering into a mailbox, described as "a place as deep and dark as the maw of an untamed beast." Through this powerful metaphor, Park explores themes of isolation and disconnection, questioning how others can perceive the emptiness that defines one's existence. The poem continues with haunting lines about a place with "no address," "no home," and "no flushed face throwing open the curtains," painting a stark picture of solitude.

The translation work by Ketevani Barbakadze has been particularly praised for maintaining the original's poetic structure while making it accessible to English-speaking readers. Barbakadze successfully preserves the raw emotional impact of Park's Korean text, particularly in complex passages such as the description of morning having "already lost its way to this place" and the vivid imagery of a beast clamping its jaws "on the gaunt hand of another trembling beast."

The Modern Korean Literature Translation Awards, now in its 56th year, continues to recognize outstanding efforts in bringing Korean literary works to international audiences. This recognition of "Words Close to the Heart" highlights the growing global appreciation for contemporary Korean poetry and the crucial role of skilled translators in cultural exchange. The award also underscores Park So-ran's position as a significant voice in modern Korean literature, whose work resonates across linguistic and cultural boundaries.