Seen E-en is a prize-winning poet who recently published her first poetry collection, Black-haired Beast Dictionary. The collection has been praised for its raw emotions and honest expression. In an interview with The University Life, Seen discussed her work, writing process, and advice for aspiring poets. 

Seen began writing poetry in her second year of high school. She was not confident in her academic abilities, so she decided to apply to college through the literary scholarship program. At Kyung Hee University (KHU), she studied Korean Language and Literature. She also began attending poetry gatherings outside of school, where she met other poets and writers.

Seen's poetry is often personal and introspective. She writes about her own experiences, her thoughts and feelings, and the world around her. Her poems are often raw and honest, as well as beautiful and eye-opening.

Q. This year, you published your first poetry collection, Black-Haired Beast Dictionary. How do you feel about publishing a new collection of poetry?

It was not a particularly special feeling because it was something that I knew I would eventually do. However, since it took long time to prepare and correct the manuscript, I felt a sense of liberation that it was finally published. I think I received the evaluations I expected from readers and critics. I'm grateful.

Q. The title is striking. How did you come up with the title for your poetry collection?

The title for my first poetry collection was already decided to be Black-Haired Beast Dictionary. I had decided on it in my heart when I was in college five years ago. In Korea, the term “black-haired beast” is an insult that refers to a person worse than an animal, so I probably came up with that title because I did not like people at that time. It’s funny that now my collection is being evaluated as a type of love poetry by readers.

Q. In the preface, you said, “Here are the unspeakable curses, lies about myself, and beautifully written stories.” You also said, “I actually wanted to introduce nothing.” What kind of work do you pursue as a writer?

An honest work. I pursue poems that are unadorned and free of pretense. However, when I write about myself and expose my inner thoughts under my own name, I sometimes end up lying naturally. I also try to avoid writing elaborate words on purpose. However, I still want to write something that I can confidently show to others. In short, I want to show my shameless inner self.

Q. Reading Black-Haired Beast Dictionary, I learned that literary works could come from raw emotions that are difficult to resolve. How do you deal with emotions in your writing?

Poets write and engage in literary activities by expressing emotions that they cannot handle themselves. When I was in my teens, I enjoyed reading that kind of poetry and strangely enough, I felt a sense of relief for my problematic emotions. It was as if they were expressing my feelings on my behalf. Also, I try to express my harmful emotions through literature, in a similar way.

Q. In your poem “Pop”, the narrative is developed through the medium of corn. As a reader, this reminded me about children and adults. What do you think about the word adult and the meaning of becoming a true adult?

A true adult is someone who respects children. A real adult is someone who understands and accepts children and helps them grow into good adults. Those who oppress and push children away are not mature. Recently, on Children's Day, I thought about my childhood, and I realized that I did not meet many good adults during my childhood. I had a lot of bad memories about teachers, especially during the time when teachers punished and put mental pressure on kids easily. So, people who spent their childhood in Korea in the 1990’s like me probably have similar memories. It is fortunate that my parents were good adults.

Q. If you have anything you would like to say to readers who are encountering your collection for the first time, what would it be?

Please read it carelessly. There is nothing more awkward than someone contemplating the contents of my poetry. I wonder if other poets feel the same way. But I do not have many poet friends, so I have no idea.

Q. I would like to ask about your childhood. Did you enjoy writing poetry from an early age?

I started writing poetry in my second year of high school. I was not confident in taking the college entrance exam based on my academic records, so I tried to enter college through the literary scholarship program. If you had a national award in poetry and fiction, you could apply to the Department of Korean Language and Literature. I became a freshman in 2014 by doing that. Until I started writing poetry, I was just an ordinary student who liked reading books and listening to music.

Q. I was amazed by many of the poems in your collection. I'm curious about the secret of your poetry work. Do you enjoy working regularly every day?

The best time for me is just after I wake up in the morning and just before I fall asleep. Since these are the times when the brain wanders the most, poetic stories come out easily.

Q. I would like to ask if there was anything that influenced your work during your time at KHU or if there was anything that affected your life as a writer.

I once dated a friend who was also writing poetry in the same department. Through him, I started attending poetry gatherings outside of school, and had diverse experiences both practically and internally, which broadened my world of poetry. In 2016, the #MeToo movement within the literary community took place. Many aspiring writers lost their motivation to write, but I was able to continue writing because I had supportive friends who were also poets and lovers.

Q. What advice would you give to students who dream of becoming poets in the future?

If students are dedicated to reading and writing poetry with the dream of becoming poets, I would like to advise them not to try too hard, but to focus on having many experiences in their early to mid-20s. I hope they don't miss the opportunity to freely reflect on their lives.