Life and Journey of Yoo Hong-jun, Director of the National Museum of Korea

Introduction: The Return of the Writer

Professor Yoo Hong-jun has lived a life as a traveler who has spent a long time discovering and promoting cultural heritage. When his name is mentioned, the series "My Cultural Heritage Travel Logs" naturally comes to mind, which has become a representative example of the recording spirit of Korean intellectuals. This time, he has returned in a slightly different way. Through his book titled "Travel Logs of Life's Affairs," he has unfolded records about his life, his era, and trivial daily matters, rather than cultural heritage. He refers to this book not simply as a prose collection but as a 'collection of miscellaneous writings.' The term miscellaneous writing reflects an attitude of a writer who rejects strict formats and expresses thoughts freely. The approach he has taken in traveling to sites and recording culture has now shifted to exploring people, life, and memory. Yoo Hong-jun refers to himself as a 'wordsmith.' He is not only a skilled writer but also a literary figure who testifies to the times. What is today's era from his perspective, what does life mean, and what constitutes good writing? Through his gaze, we are prompted to reflect on these questions once again.

Exploring Life

"Life's Journey: A Collection of Reflections" is a compilation of writings embodying Professor Yoo Hong-jun's unique observations and insights. Unlike previous writings focused on cultural heritage or historical sites, this time the emphasis is on stories that have brushed through life, events experienced alongside the times, and the philosophical reflections embedded in ordinary objects. The term 'essay collection' distinctly showcases the identity of this book. It breaks down the boundaries of genres, rejects formal constraints, and consists of writings created freely and spontaneously. However, it is by no means trivial. Rather, it is deeply rooted in the writer's sincere thoughts and reflections, unshackled from worldly criteria or justifications. He states that just as one explores cultural heritage, he has revisited life. It is not a return to specific places of the past, but a reconsideration of specific 'times' from the past, which ultimately leads to self-examination. This book serves as a colossal act of self-reflection and a response from the author to the times.

Monument to Weeds and Go: The Philosophy Embedded in Objects

Professor Yoo Hong-jun draws deep philosophy from everyday objects. A representative example is the "Weed Monument." Located on Cheongok Mountain in Pyeongchang, this monument was erected by an elderly couple to honor their gratitude for weeds. For most people, weeds are something to be removed, but Professor Yoo refers to them as "the skin of the Earth." Without weeds, the land easily becomes barren, and ecosystems can collapse. Humans label weeds as "useless" based on rice and grains, but from a global perspective, weeds are essential elements of the cycle of life. Through this ordinary monument, Professor Yoo speaks of ecological sensitivity that transcends anthropocentric thinking. He also mentions the "nine crises" in Go, offering insights into attitudes toward life. Go is a game played to win, but its first saying is, "Do not try too hard to win." This connects closely to the essence of life. The teaching to not rush ahead and to play according to the natural order is highly relevant for modern individuals exhausted by competition and achievement.

Testament of the Times: Between Art and Power

Another identity that Professor Yoo Hong-jun possesses is that of a 'witness of the times.' He remembers and documents the absurd events that occurred between art and power. One particularly impressive record is his account of the incident involving artist Shin Hak-cheol's painting . Although was a work themed around unification, it was prosecuted at the time for violating the National Security Law. The court interpreted the symbols in the painting as anti-national elements and sent the artist to prison. Professor Yoo attended this trial without missing a single session and documented it, coining the term 'public security critique' to describe his observations. He states, 'This is not art criticism it's public security criticism.' The landscape of an era where art was sacrificed as a tool of politics rather than being an object of appreciation is vividly captured. Writing in this way serves as an ethical practice of remembering and documenting the absurdities of the times.

The Art of Writing and Mourning

The 'Travelog of Life' is also a record of 'eulogies.' It includes tributes to figures who lived in the same era as Professor Yoo, such as Shin Yong-bok, Lee Young-hee, Hong Se-hwa, and Kim Min-ki. These eulogies are not merely farewells. They are writings that bring forth their lives, philosophies, and attitudes toward their times, serving as a form that re-enacts the presence of the deceased through words. Professor Yoo Hong-jun states that through this kind of writing, 'Remembering the dead is the ethics of the living.' Words provide comfort to the living, serve as a final farewell to those who have passed, and become a record of the times. Therefore, Yoo Hong-jun's writing leans more towards 'summoning' than 'commemoration.' It is the act of bringing back to the present the time, thoughts, and voices shared with them.

What is a "good writing"?

At the end of the book, there are 15 writing tips that resemble an appendix. However, they are not just simple tips. They are insights from someone who has lived as a writer for 40 years, embodying a 'philosophy of writing' that he wishes to pass on to future generations. The core of this philosophy is as follows: "It is rich in content but has no excess, compressed yet complete." This is a principle that Professor Yu has held onto throughout his long writing career. A good piece of writing is not merely a list of information it is a piece that conveys emotions and thoughts entirely, without unnecessary explanations. He refers to this as "compressed sincerity." This advice is not just about writing techniques it is a reflection on the approach to connecting with the world through writing. He believes that writing is directed toward others and simultaneously serves as a tool for self-reflection, thus it must be more refined.

Conclusion: The expedition does not end

"Life Exploration Diary" is not just the publication of a book. It is the life of a scholar named Yoo Hong-jun and a record that contains the cultural memory of an era. He has expanded the focus of exploration from historical sites to humans, time, and thoughts. This broadened perspective raises new questions for all of us. How is my life being recorded? What have I lived by observing? Following his writings, we ultimately realize that we are all explorers of life. Observing day by day, reflecting on it, and giving it meaning is what constitutes a "life of exploration." Professor Yoo Hong-jun is still walking, recording, and testifying. His exploration has not yet ended. And our exploration continues at this very moment.