Yun Dongju and the Effects of Colonization on Literature

Project Abstract

Tucked away in a small room, in a country he used to recognize, poet Yun Dongju (1917-1945) drafted nineteen poems that would become the foundation of his legacy: Sky, Wind, Stars, and Poetry. Growing up during the Japanese annexation of Korea, Yun drafted his poetry during a time where Korean language and cultural practices were banned by Imperial Japan. In my essay, I will use Yun’s poetry as a viewpoint for dissecting the negative effects of literary censorship brought about by colonization. Additionally, I will discuss the significance of how Yun – one of Korea’s most famous poets – uses poetry to help readers understand the national trauma caused by Japan’s colonial rule and how it affected (and still affects) the morale and mindset of Korean people born and raised during the occupation (1915-1945).

In 1942, after finishing his first anthology of poetry, Yun Dongju packed his bags and moved to study at Rikkyo University in Tokyo, Japan. During this time, he wrote his final poem, “Swipge Ssuieojin Si” (A Poem That Came Easily). In his poem, Yun writes, “The night rain whispers outside the window / of my six-mat room, in an alien country. The poet has a sad vocation, I know; should I write another line of poetry?” (McCann 94-95). Aware of the position he is in, Yun questions if the poetry he is writing is worth the risk he is taking. The six-mat room is in reference to a tatami mat, an architectural piece common in Japanese households. Additionally, the “night rain” he refers to – originally written in Korean as 밤비 or bambi – is a common way Korean people refer to the Japanese occupation (Kim).  Yun continues with his reflection of home as he writes, “Having received my tuition from home in an envelope / soaked with the smell of sweat and love,” (McCann 94-95).

Through analyzing Yun’s poetry and historical analyses, I plan to examine what Jinhee Kim argues as Yun’s philosophy: “poets must write poems to shed light during such dark times” (208), as well as how the Japanese empire – according to Yasuko Claremont – showed “how powerful control by the state can be, reducing its citizens to compliant units,” (137), to help readers gain a new respect for survivors of colonialism in Korea and the importance of literature and self-expression in times of political unrest. Additionally, I will discuss why Yun’s personal experiences as a Korean living in Japan are integral to understanding the gravity of Japan's occupation, and the consequences of an empire seeking to oppress its occupants of all ages.

Works Cited

Kim, Min. Interview. Conducted by Author. September 7th, 2025.

McCann, David. The Columbia Anthology of Modern Korean Poetry. New York: Columbia University Press, 2004.

Claremont, Yasuko.“Young Poets Under the Shadow of War: Yun Dong-ju and Tachihara Michizō.” In “History Wars” and Reconciliation in Japan and Korea, edited by Michael Lewis, 125-141. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2017.

Kim, Jinhee. “The Understanding of Yun Dong-ju in Three East Asian Countries.” Korea Journal, vol. 52, no. 3, 2012, pp. 201-225.

Conference

Conference Name: Louisville Conference on Literature and Culture

Dates: February 19th and 20th (will arrive in Louisville on Feb. 18th)

Sponsoring Body: University of Louisville

Conference Website:

The Louisville Conference on Literature and Culture | College of Arts & Sciences

Funding Type

Travel Grant

Academic College

College of Humanities and Fine Arts

Area/Major/Minor

English Literature/Chinese Studies/East Asian Studies

Degree

Bachelors Degree of English Literature

Classification

Senior

Name

Dr. Ray Horton

Academic College

College of Humanities and Fine Arts

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