Azaleas

📘 Azaleas: The Enduring Voice of Kim Sowol

A Bilingual Edition of Korea’s Beloved National Poet

More than a century after his birth, Kim Sowol (1902–1934) remains the enduring voice of the Korean soul. His poetry—rooted in the rhythms of traditional minyo (folk songs)—captures the essence of han, a uniquely Korean sentiment of sorrow, longing, and quiet resilience.

This comprehensive bilingual edition presents the full breadth of Kim Sowol’s literary legacy. At its core lies Azaleas (Jindallaekkot), the single volume he published in his lifetime (1925), a slender book that became a national touchstone. Yet Sowol’s poetic world extends far beyond its pages.

Inside this volume, you will find:

• ✅ Azaleas, Sowol’s landmark poetry collection

• ✅ Additional poems published in journals but omitted from the book

• ✅ His essential prose writings, including The Soul of Poetry (Shihon)

• ✅ Personal letters revealing his inner life and artistic struggles

Painstakingly translated to honor both the musicality and emotional depth of his Korean originals, this edition offers:

• 🖋 Literal fidelity with lyrical resonance

• 🎶 Musical rhythms and pauses that echo Korean speech

• 🌸 Delicate imagery and universal themes of love, loss, and nature

Whether you're a Korean reader discovering new dimensions of a beloved poet, or a global reader encountering Sowol for the first time, this edition opens a gateway to the heart of Korean literature. His voice—like flowing water—continues to move generations.

“As fundamental to Korea as Yeats is to Ireland or Neruda to Chile.”

📖 Format: Bilingual (Korean–English)
🗓 Centennial Edition marking 100 years since Azaleas (1925)
🔍 Includes: Poems, essays, letters, and new scholarly commentary