Origins & Early Life

Park Wan-suh (Korean: 박완서; October 20, 1931 – January 22, 2011) was a South Korean writer. Park Wan-suh (also Park Wan-seo, Park Wan-so, Park Wansuh, Pak Wan-so, Pak Wanso) was born in 1931 in Gaepung-gun in what is now Kaesong in North Korea. Park entered Seoul National University, but dropped out almost immediately after attending classes due to the outbreak of the Korean War and the death of her brother. During the war, Park was separated from her mother and elder brother by the North Korea army, which moved them to North Korea.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

She lived in the village of Achui, in Guri, outside Seoul until her death. Park died on the morning of January 22, 2011, suffering from cancer. The novelist Jung Yi-hyun wrote in her memorial letter, "You will know how much hope it is for the many female writers that the fact that there is a Park Wan-suh in Korean paragraphs." Park published her first work, The Naked Tree, in 1970, when she was 40. Her œuvre quickly grew however and as of 2007 she had written fifteen novels, and 10 short story collections. Her work is "revered" in Korea and she has won many Korean literary awards including, in 1981 the Yi Sang Literary Prize, in 1990...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• A. P. J. Abdul Kalam — Contemporary (Born in 1931) (1931): Visionary aerospace engineer, scientist, and former President of India.
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• Albert A. Michelson — Contemporary (Died in 1931) (1931): Pioneering American experimental physicist known for light speed measurements.
• Amy Winehouse — Contemporary (Died in 2011) (2011): Iconic British soul artist blending jazz, R&B, and retro sounds.
• Anne McCaffrey — Contemporary (Died in 2011) (2011): Pioneering science fiction author, celebrated for the Dragonriders of Pern.
• Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu — Contemporary (Died in 2011) (2011): Prominent Nigerian politician and military leader, best known for leading Biafra.
• Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt — Shared historical date (10-20 · Born) (1877): American sportsman and businessman, known for his involvement in pioneering endeavors.
• Andrey Kolmogorov — Shared historical date (10-20 · Died) (1987): Pioneering Soviet mathematician central to modern probability, topology, and information theory.
• Antonio Gramsci — Shared historical date (01-22 · Born) (1891): Italian Marxist philosopher known for his theory of cultural hegemony.
• Arno Allan Penzias — Shared historical date (01-22 · Died) (2024): Pioneering radio astronomer known for discovering cosmic microwave background radiation.
• 1931 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1931
• October 20 (10-20) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on October 20
• 2011 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2011
• January 22 (01-22) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on January 22