On May 23, 2024, Park Sung-jun, a graduate of Kyung Hee University (KHU)’s Dept. of Korean Language and Literature, published his first collection of critical essays, Hello, My Persona. This book explores the multilayered aspects of poetry and poets while remaining accessible. Notably, Park’s critiques are grounded in his profound contemplation and love for literature, and he meticulously analyzes poetry to craft his reviews. He plays a vital role in highlighting lesser-known poets, encouraging recognition of their significance.

From Poet to Critic

  Park Sung-jun also completed his doctoral studies at KHU’s Dept. of Korean Language and Literature. He first gained recognition in the literary world by winning the Literature and Society Newcomer Literary Award for poetry in 2009 and the Kyunghyang Shinmun Annual Spring Literary Contest for criticism in 2013. In 2015, he was awarded the Park In-hwan Literary Award, further cementing his literary reputation.

  Park has published multiple poetry collections such as A Diary Written in a Rush, Unfamiliar Relationships, and a collaborative poetry collection The Seventh Sense - ㅅ, as well as co-authored works like Spatial Studies of Modern Korean Poetry, Literary Studies of Yoon Gon-gang, and Artificial Intelligence and the Vision of Literature. While poetry has been his primary focus, Hello, My Persona stands out as his first collection of critical essays, making it a distinctive addition to his body of work.

  Park stated that there was no specific reason for publishing this collection, adding, “I am a poet, and I love poetry. Through studying contemporary poetry, I have read numerous works and found my own perspective.” He wanted to break free from traditional literary evaluation and explore new avenues in criticism. However, he also admitted he had hesitated to publish critiques, as criticism can risk being overly subjective. Additionally, he pointed out that criticism is often written in response to requests, which sometimes forced him to engage with works that did not align with his literary stance. As a result, this collection includes only those that resonate with his poetic orientation, making his literary values more notable. 

In-depth Look at Hello, My Persona

  Park’s collection, Hello, My Persona, is divided into five parts. It begins with his debut critique, “Mowgli Syndrome,” followed by “The Mask of Light and Its Expansion,” which explores the contrast between light and darkness; “Hello, My Persona,” which offers praise for poets; “Reflections on Attitude,” which takes a generational perspective; and finally, “Early Notes on Life,” which stands out for its logical insight.

  This collection is structured around specific themes, weaving various authors’ works together with Park’s interpretations and explanations. Park cites “Mowgli Syndrome” as the most memorable piece in the collection. In this essay, he explores the conflicts and choices between humanity and nature, civilization and the wild, through the character of the wolf boy Mowgli. The essay centers on Mowgli’s identity crisis as he struggles between his wolf upbringing and his desire to integrate into human society, which requires him to abandon his wolf identity. Ultimately, the essay highlights how the emergence of various “Mowglis”?individuals with hybrid identities and diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds?has led to the creation of new dialects and linguistic forms since the mid-2000s.

  Park does not view this phenomenon as abnormal or problematic; instead, he sees it as enriching the diversity and vibrancy of our language and cultural landscape. He also critiques how modern Korean poetry, rooted in Western literature, has developed a sort of complex about innovation. He points out that Korean poetry often adopts the child as a central subject, playing a crucial role in opening up new poetic forms and emotions. Thus, “Mowgli Syndrome” explores the conflicts of hybrid identities in modern society and their impact on language and culture, viewing the emergence of new linguistic and cultural possibilities in a positive light. Beyond “Mowgli Syndrome,” Park’s collection of critiques reflects his unique poetic interpretations and literary vision. 

Balancing Poet and Critic: Park’s Approach

  Park explains that the title Hello, My Persona reflects his view of the poetic speaker as a masked subject, or persona, which sometimes aligns with his own identity as the other self. In this book, he explores the personas presented by various poets, sometimes feeling as if these personas were his own. This experience influenced the title, as he sees all these poetic personas as extensions of his own.

  Park also likes writing critiques to break even, explaining that he sought to balance his identity as a poet with his role as a critic. He believes that while poetry places the self above the world, criticism positions the world above the self, with the critic being subservient to the work. As a poet, Park has strived to break free from established norms and create his own linguistic dictionary, but this process has often made it difficult for him to engage with society. He admits that writing poetry can be a painful task, as it often requires him to revisit personal sorrows and shame. Therefore, he views writing critiques as a modest way to break even?a means of maintaining balance while living as a poet. 

  In his critiques, Park focuses on interpretation and explanation rather than evaluation, emphasizing the significance of a work rather than its ranking. He expresses skepticism about literary evaluations that often result from struggles for hegemony and believes that if 100 people appreciate a work, there should be 100 different interpretations. He sees this approach to criticism as aligned with his concept of breaking even. 

  Finally, Park acknowledges that his critiques may not always be academic or scientific, and he intentionally avoids such approaches when they could become oppressive to the reader. Instead, he seeks to write critiques that resonate with the reader’s personal experience, diverging from traditional critiques that rely on rigid standards. His approach contributes to the creation of a unique and innovative world of literary criticism. 

  Through his collection Hello, My Persona, Park emphasizes that there is no definitive way to read poetry, and he encourages readers to discover themselves and encounter new aspects of their identity through poetry. He suggests that when a particular line resonates with the reader, it is more important to dwell on that line and find joy in reading poetry than to analyze the reasons behind it. The joy of reading poetry is not uniform; it is a unique experience for each individual.

  Although Park has completed enough critical work to publish another book, he has no plans to do so. Instead, he plans to release a scholarly book titled Yun Dong-ju and the Joseon Literary Salon later this year. He advises that while there is no set path in literature, approaching it with seriousness is essential, as literature’s ability to save lies in its capacity for deep self-reflection. It will be exciting to see how Park’s future works continue to inspire and influence readers.