Mundus Artium Press Names So Long by Kim Sun Hyang as the Orpheus Texts Book of the Year 2025

“Mundus Artium Press, housed at The University of Texas at Dallas, today announced that So Long, a collection of poems by Korean poet Sun Hyang Kim and translated into English by the author and professor Dean J. Ouellette, has been selected as the winner of the Orpheus Texts Book of the Year Award 2025.” “First published by Mundus Artium Press, So Long sold out upon release. Its second edition further reaffirms Kim’s standing in Korean literature as one of the most resonant poetic voices of her generation.” (Richardson, Texas, August 15, 2025)

Her Life Etched in Verse

 Sun Hyang Kim's award-winning poetry collection, So Long, has been recognized for its masterful lyricism and historical depth. The anthology gathers works from her trilogy—Verse Diary (2012), Golden Roses (2021), and The Day, The Flower(2024)—showcasing more than a decade of her poetic career. Critics have praised her ability to combine personal experiences with the tumultuous modern history of Korea, from the Korean War to the ongoing quest for reconciliation. Born in the North and now living in the South, her poetry explores the intricate themes of identity and belonging in a divided nation. She is known for her unique “verse diary” style, which has been described by one reviewer as capturing “the sensibility of a poet and the perspective of a historian.” She is a multifaceted figure—a poet, scholar, and humanitarian. She has held prominent positions, including as a professor of English literature at Kyungnam University, Vice President of the Korean Red Cross, and Chairperson of the University of North Korean Studies. She is also an accomplished translator, introducing the works of classic poets such as John Donne to Korean readers.Published by Mundus Artium Press, So Long sold out upon release, affi rming her unique and powerful poetic voice in Korean literature of her generation. Motivated by her desire “to write words that sing,” she weaves quiet beauty into everyday moments. Her themes—love and loss, waiting and renewal—refl ect both personal experiences and the emotional undercurrents of her times, resonating deeply with readers. So Long does not mark an end but contemplates life’s cyclical nature, inviting reflection on parting and reunion. Through candid confession and thoughtful insight, her work reveals how a steadfast life, continuously drawing its own circle, can ultimately become a lasting song.

Roses of Memory Blooming Along Her Poetic Path

 Sun Hyang Kim’s poetic world has earned warm and thoughtful praise from literary peers. Renowned poet Dong-ho Choi, a member of the Korean Academy of Arts, described her Verse Diary Series as “a true trace of poetry and life coexisting, where fleeting moments meet eternity through enduring imagery.” He highlighted her consistent effort to transform daily life into lyrical verse, revealing a voice of depth and sincerity. The 100 poems included in her diaries, written over 14 years (1998–2012), form a deeply autobiographical chronicle that confronts life, death, sorrow, and joy, using poetry as a means of consolation and introspection. Choi called this collection “a small gift to her family and a moment of rebirth as a poet,” adding that her gaze—fi xed on the fl eeting instant and eternal continuity—refl ects both poetic sensitivity and historical depth. Her poetry transcends emotion to become the narrative of an era. Celebrating her unique persona, poet Hyo Hwan Kwak, former president of Korean Literature Translation Institute, noted: “Amid the urgency of time’s flight, the 76 poems play like musical notes, off ering those crossing the desert a dream of a rose-fi lled garden.” He emphasized poetry’s power to soothe life’s thirst. Characters from old black-and-white memories—such as a young North 
Korean soldier from wartime or a family at a Hawaiian airport—are revived not as mere recollections but as vivid present emotions. Like fl owers standing tall through stormy winds and rain, these beings, though wounded, remain resilient. Thus, Kim’s poetry blossoms as golden roses between the world and its people—fragile yet strong, fleeting yet eternal.

A Life Journey From So Long to Golden Roses: Verse Diary 2

 Kim’s poetry collections, including So Long and Golden Roses: Verse Diary 2, transcend the boundaries of personal reflection to evoke a deeper resonance with the times and the world at large. Her words—emerging where poetry meets lived experience—gently embrace our collective wounds and hopes, offering a steady center and quiet consolation. These works stand not only as records of a singular life, but as enduring testaments to the power of poetry to connect, heal, and endure. It is the hope of the author that they will continue to leave a lasting warmth in the hearts of readers for generations to come. (from Afterword of So Long) 

SEA AND TREE
At the Malecon seashore
Capturing the seascape
I take a picture
Photo taken
I didn’t see
The slender tree
A mystic shape
Caught by the camera
The tree speaks to me,
“Remember me”
(Do you know? Now without you
I cannot see the sea)