Yi Uk was born in 1907 in Vladivostokshinan/Goryeo Village (블라디보스톡신안/고려 마을). When he was 3, he moved with his father to Jilin Province in Kando. He graduated from Hwaryong Elementary School in 1914 and learned about Chinese and Korean classical literature from his father. In 1924, he became involved with the “Enlightenment” (계몽) Movement to educate the general public while he was a teacher at Hunch’unch’angdong School. As part of these activities, he organized a night school to increase peasant literacy.
Yi also made his literary debut in 1924 in the Kando Ilbo with his poem “Offering of Life” (생명의 예물). He published more stories and poems in 1930, 1935, and 1938 and was also active as a Manchuria correspondent reporter for the Chosun Ilbo.
He is known for his book of poems “Lyrics of the Northlands” (북륜의 서정), which was published in 1949 and concerns life in Manchuria. As a representative of Chinese and Korean literature, he wrote works in both languages. He was active in the founding of Yanbian University and served as professor until 1951. He was also the first Korean writer to join the Chinese Writers Association and serve as director of the Yanbian branch. He was in the midst of writing the second volume of his epic poem “P’ungun’gi” (풍운기) when he passed away on February 26, 1984.
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