Claudia Lee Hae-in (, born 7 June 1945) is a South Korean Catholic nun, poet, and essayist. She has sold almost two million copies of her books of poetry and been regarded as "Korea's next contender for the Nobel Prize in Literature."
Biography Lee Hae-in was born on 7 June 1945, in Yanggu County, Gangwon to Catholic parents, Lee Dae-young and Kim Sun-ok. Three days after she was born, she was baptized Catholic with the name Velladetta. At a very young age, she displayed immense literary talent. At the outbreak of the Korean War on 25 June 1950, her father was detained and taken to North Korea and the remaining family were forced to flee to Busan, South Korea.
After completing her secondary education, she entered religious life in 1964 as an Olivetan Benedictine Sister in Busan. She pronounced her first vows in 1968 and perpetual vows in 1976. She graduated with a degree in English from the Saint Louis University in Baguio, Philippines.
From 1992 to 1997, she was appointed as the General-Secretary of her order in Korea. She was diagnosed with rectal cancer in 2008, and after receiving medical treatments, has returned to good health. In 2015, fake news spread on the internet claiming the nun had died, which she jokingly ignored by saying, "I could forgive the fake news, but I can't go easy on the fake poem."
She had solid friendship with the poet Park Wan-suh and the Venerable Buddhist monk Beopjeong, whom she both noted as having greatly influenced her in life and works.
Writing Poetry Lee made her debut as a poet with the poem "Flower Shovel" in the Catholic Journal Soyeon in 1970. The poem was a conversation with a natural occurrence based on her daily experiences. Her reputation as a poet grew following the publication in 1976 of her first collection of poems titled, The Land of Dandelions. She became known for her works because of its clarity and simplicity, and its usage of plain Korean language with deep-seated messages and meanings which makes the readers reflect.
Other inspiring collections of Lee's poetry and essays include; Light a Fire in My Soul (1979), The Face of Time (1989), A Little Prayer (2011), Happiness of Waiting (2018) and As If Leaves Are Seen After Flowers Fall (2011). Her poem "The Love Song of a Dandelion" which is a reflection on both consolation and hope appeared in Korean middle school text books.
From 1998 to 2002, she carried out her missionary works through a literary forum called "Hae-in's Writing Room" and delivered a series of lectures in various parts of the country on the theme "Poetry and Spirituality in Life."
Awards and recognitions She has received six awards for her outstanding contributions to literature: 1981: New Sprouts Literary Award 1985: Donga Women's Prize 1985: Busan Women's Literature Award 2004: Woollim Arts Award 2006: Cheong Sang-beong Literary Award 2016: Gumin Award
In recent years, Lee has been regarded as Korea's likely candidate for the Nobel Prize in Literature, along with the authors Ko Un, Kim Hyesoon and Hwang Sok-yong.
Publications From an early age, Lee Hae-in was passionate about writing and as a Catholic nun explored the significant connections between poetry and spirituality. She has published 18 collections of poetry, 12 books on essays and 6 anthologies of her poems, which are included in high school textbooks.
Poetry collections +YearOriginal titleEnglish titlePublisher 1976 민들레의 영토 The Land of Dandelions Catholic Books Publishing 1979 내 혼에 불을 놓아 Light A Fire in my Soul Bundo Books 1983 오늘은 내가 반달로 떠도 If I Rise as a Half-Moon Today 1989 시간의 얼굴 The Face of Time 1992 엄마와 분꽃 Mommy and the Sunflower 1999 외딴 마을의 빈집이 되고 싶다 To Be an Empty House in a Secluded Village Yolimwon Publishing 다른 옷은 입을 수가 없네 I Can't Wear Other Clothes 2002 작은 위로 Small Comfort 2007 작은 기쁨 Small Joy 2008 엄마 Mom Samtoh Publishing 2010 희망은 깨어있네 Hope Is Awake Mind Walk Books 2011 작은기도 A Little Prayer Yolimwon Publishing 2013 이해인 시전집 Hae-in Lee Poems Literary Thought 2014 필 때도 질 때도 동백꽃처럼 Like a Camelia When It Blooms and Withers Mind Walk Books 2015 서로 사랑하면 언제라도 봄 Whenever We Love Each Other, It's Always Spring Yellimul Publishing 2019 친구에게 To a Friend Samtoh Publishing 2022 꽃잎 한 장처럼 Like a Single Petal 2023 인생의 열 가지 생각 Ten Thoughts on Life Mind Walk Books
Essays +YearOriginal titleEnglish titlePublisher 1986 두레박 Durebak Bundo Books 1994 꽃삽 Flower Shovel Samtoh Publishing 1997 사랑할 땐 별이 되고 When You Love, You Become a Star 2002 향기로 말을 거는 꽃처럼 Like a Flower That Speaks With Its Scents Spring Co. 2004 기쁨이 열리는 창 The Window Where Happiness Rests Mind Walk Books2006 풀꽃 단상 Flower Pots Bundo Books 사랑은 외로운 투쟁 Love Is A Lonely Struggle Mind Walk Books 2011 꽃이 지고 나면 잎이 보이듯이 As If Leaves Are Seen After Flowers Fall Samtoh Publishing2018 고운 마음 꽃이 되고 고운 말은 빛이 되고 A Kind Heart Becomes a Flower, A Kind Word Becomes a Light Spring Co. 기다리는 행복 Happiness of Waiting Samtoh Publishing 2019 그 사랑 놓치지 마라 Don't Miss That Love 2020 이해인의 말 Lee Hae-in's Words Mind Walk Books
Anthologies +YearOriginal titleEnglish titlePublisher 1993 사계절의 기도 Prayer of the Four Seasons Bundo Books 2000 고운새는 어디 숨었을까 Where Did the Beautiful Bird Hide? Samtoh Publishing 2001 여행 중 On a Journey Pagusa Publishing 2005 눈꽃 아가 Snowflake Baby Yolimwon Publishing 2006 꽃은 흩어지고 그리움은 모이고 Flowers Scatter and Longing Gathers Bundo Books 2013 나를 키우는 말 Words That Lifted Me Poet's Though Books
See also
Korean literature Korean poetry
References
External links Olivetan Benedictine Sisters Claudia Lee Hae-in, OSB Two poems by Sister Claudia Lee Hae-in