Remember that moment in September 2022 when BTS’ RM ignited a global literary buzz? The K-Pop superstar shared a photo of Lee Seong-bok’s 1990 poetry collection, “That Summer’s End,” on social media, instantly bringing a revered work to a new generation of readers worldwide. Now, nearly four years later, the collection that captivated RM’s artistic soul is finally available in English!
“That Summer’s End” officially hit bookshelves on Tuesday, published by Knopf, an imprint of Penguin Random House, after acquiring world English rights. This eagerly anticipated release brings the profound verses of one of Korea’s most acclaimed poets to a wider international audience.
BTS RM’s Literary Influence & “That Summer’s End”
Lee Seong-bok, born in 1952, has long been celebrated in his home country, earning many of its highest literary honors. The power of Lee’s poetry is immediately evident in lines like these from the title poem:
“That summer I stood in the centers of storms
That summer my despair burst out into crimson
but still I weathered the wind and rain”
This collection, Lee’s third, compiles 106 poems. Korean publisher Moonji Publishing describes the work as an exploration of love, longing, waiting, and despair, masterfully conveyed through restrained, meditative verse that traces the wounds of the inner self and the slow, often painful, process of healing.
A Poetic Blend: Seon Buddhism & French Symbolism
Knopf further introduces the collection as “poems of self-reflection and exquisite beauty — an intoxicating blend of Seon Buddhism and French Symbolism.” They highlight that the poems, “though acutely conscious of the self, are free of an inhibiting self-consciousness, speaking directly of youth, love, fear, family, grief, old age, impermanence, and all that’s central to life.” This unique blend offers readers a rich, introspective journey.
The Award-Winning Translation by Anton Hur
The meticulous English translation was completed by the award-winning Anton Hur, a name familiar to fans of Korean literature. Hur also notably translated Lee’s book of literary criticism, “Indeterminate Inflorescence.” Interestingly, Hur was reportedly almost finished with “Indeterminate Inflorescence” when RM’s unexpected social media post about “That Summer’s End” created a wave of new interest in Lee Seong-bok’s work, highlighting the profound ripple effect of K-Pop’s biggest stars.
Meet the Creators: US Book Tour Announced
To mark this significant English publication, Lee Seong-bok and Anton Hur are set to embark on a US book tour this October. Fans and literary enthusiasts will have the chance to hear from them directly, starting with a lecture at Wellesley College in Boston on Oct. 16, followed by a conversation at the Boston Book Festival the very next day. They will then appear together at Fordham University in New York on Oct. 19, with additional events planned at various bookstores across the city. Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to delve deeper into the poetic world that moved BTS’ RM!
