Lee Jung Seob..!

Koreans Remember Passionate Artist

Though he died almost 60 years ago, a

rtist Lee Jung Seob continues to arouse admiration 

from Koreans through his work and his life story.

Born in 1916 in what is now North Korea‘s 

South Pyongan Province," 

Lee studied painting for a year in Japan and returned 

to Korea in 1936. During the Korean War, 

he traveled through the South and spent time in Busan, 

Jeju, and Seoul. Lee, like many others who lived 

during the Japanese occupation, World War II, 

and the Korean War, suffered from malnutrition 

that contributed to his death at the age of 40.

Seo Hye Ja, who also lived through this era, said 

of the artist, “I do feel admiration for his paintings 

but I feel sympathy more because he could not see 

his family often and he died at such a young age."

After viewing his 1954 piece “The Leaving Family” 

in the Hyundai art gallery, Seo reflected, “Back then, 

people had no proper food... Some people did not have 

any food to eat and I remember that many people died 

of starvation. ”

Yet his most famous work, “White Ox, p" ortrays Korea’s spirit 

and energy as an ox that seems poised to jump out 

of the painting.

Caitlin Lopez, an art history teacher 

at Seoul International School, 

explained the symbolism behind the work to JSR.

"Apparently, the oxen are the species of tiger oxen 

that were massively killed for food rations 

for the Japanese soldiers during the colonization. 

I have respected the artist more since I found 

that he was also expressing his grief for the oxen in the

painting.”

Alisa Ryu, an art student attending Seoul International School, 

told JSR that she admires Lee because 

“he managed to show passion for the country 

and still keep up with his artistic style. ”

“I think it is incredible, Ryu added," that he was able 

to draw even though he was going through a lot 

of suffering. He has all my respect."