The Korean Cultural Center Los Angeles, under the direction of Haedon Lee, recently organized a special poetry workshop series featuring Oh Eun, one of Korea's most celebrated contemporary poets. The three-day event aimed to introduce Korean literature to American audiences through interactive sessions held at prestigious educational venues across Southern California.
The poetry workshops took place on three consecutive occasions: Wednesday, October 22 at Los Angeles City College, Thursday, October 23 at the University of California, Irvine, and Saturday, October 25 at The Wende Museum. Each session was specifically designed to showcase Oh Eun's unique poetic style and provide participants with hands-on experience in Korean literary traditions.
The timing of these workshops coincides with Korean literature's growing international recognition, particularly following recent achievements such as Nobel Prize in Literature and Booker Prize acknowledgments. This surge in global interest has created increased demand for cultural exchange programs that introduce Korean literary works to international audiences.
Poet Oh Eun, who began his literary career in 2002, has established himself as a leading voice in modern Korean poetry through acclaimed works including "I Had a Name," "The Pronoun for Nothingness," and "From Being to Being." Literary critics consistently praise his distinctive linguistic sensitivity, clever imagination, and deep philosophical reflections that resonate with readers across different cultural backgrounds. His ability to weave profound philosophical concepts through everyday language has earned him recognition as one of Korea's most accessible yet intellectually rigorous poets.
The centerpiece of the workshop series was Oh Eun's poetry collection "From Being to Being," which explores themes of life and existence through delicate meditation and introspective verse. The English translation of this collection was published in July 2025, making his work available to international readers for the first time and contributing to the growing body of Korean literature in English translation.
During each workshop session, Oh Eun shared intimate details about his creative process and the inspiration behind his most celebrated works. He led participants through hands-on writing exercises that featured his signature technique of wordplay with puns, exploring words with similar sounds and patterns. This interactive approach provided attendees with a unique opportunity to experience Korean poetic traditions firsthand while developing their own creative writing skills.
The event series was made possible through collaborative partnerships with Los Angeles City College, the University of California, Irvine, and Get Lit, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting literacy and creative expression. Special invitations were extended to students and teachers from these institutions, ensuring that the workshops reached both academic and community audiences interested in Korean culture and literature. Beyond his literary achievements, Oh Eun remains actively engaged in broadcasting, lectures, and various literary programs, serving as a bridge between Korean literature and the general public both domestically and internationally.
