Poet Lee Moon-jae: 'The heart of poetry' is about understanding others' perspectives

Poet Lee Moon-jae, who has remained active after his retirement, stresses the vital importance of "the heart of poetry." He defines this as the ability to empathize with others, extending this understanding not only to fellow humans but also to objects, technology, and the natural world. Lee posits that the extreme conflicts, divisions, and isolation plaguing society today stem directly from a deficit of this empathetic perspective.

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In a word, it is the heart of being in the position of others. It is the heart of poetry to be in the position of people in front of me, as well as those far away, and furthermore, things, machines and technology, and heaven and earth.

Lee's concept of "the heart of poetry" transcends mere literary appreciation. He connects it to literary critic Do Jeong-il's idea of "literary imagination" and former "Green Review" publisher Kim Jong-chul's pursuit of "public literature." Both concepts emphasize understanding the suffering of others. Lee believes that all good literature is inherently public, fostering empathy and connection, which he sees as humanity's last bastion of hope against the erosion caused by neoliberalism and new digital technologies.

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All the extreme conflicts, divisions, alienation, and loneliness we are experiencing now are due to a lack of the heart of poetry.

His recent works, including the poetry collection "A Dream That Makes You Dream" and the essay collection "I Went Up When Others Came Down," reflect this philosophy. The poetry collection explores the idea of "role models" in all aspects of life, suggesting that a "dream that makes you dream" is a fundamental, universal dream. The essay collection, inspired by conversations with photographer Lee Won-gyu, champions unconventional thinking and diverse perspectives as keys to opening new futures. Lee argues that agriculture is central to this, expressing concern over South Korea's low food self-sufficiency rate and asserting that farming is more critical than semiconductors or tanks.

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The ability to empathize and connect is perhaps the last bastion for Homo sapiens not to give up hope.