Yoon, Suk-Joong

While the years may dim recall of recent events, we all carry through life recollections of our earliest learning. Rare is the individual not conditioned in mature decisions by an indelible childhood incident, remark by an elder or remembered phrase of advice. On the open, absorptive child’s mind is etched so much more than we usually recognize as consequential. At the root of many social ills is the frequent failure to appreciate how determinative are these first lessons of a child’s life.

In its children each civilization sows the seeds that in time make the national ethos. Especially among the newly independent nations there is a great need for children’s literature that frees them of attitudes, prejudices and outdated values detrimental to growth as mature citizens who must shape the future of their culture. Their folk histories and legends are rich in lore of which creative writers can make splendid traditions.

YOON SUK-JOONG was born in 1911, one year after Korea became a Japanese colony, and grew up in the turbulent era of struggle for national identity. Among his enduring early memories was the March 1, 1919 demonstration that provided leadership for the modern independence movement. Preservation and enhancement of Korean culture was their first concern and became YOON’s inspiration. At the age of 12 he helped organize the “Flower Garden Club” as a reading circle. For publication in the club’s magazine he wrote lyrics for familiar tunes so they could sing in the Korean language. “A Flowing Stream,” “A Half-Moon in the Day Sky” and “Eat Hot Pepper and Whirl” are songs still sung by children today.

Among the musically gifted Koreans, composers soon began writing music for other of YOON’s poems. They became a popular vehicle for cementing national aspirations and values. With the surrender of Japan at the end of World War II, Korea became independent, though divided. Korean now became the language of education, rather than Japanese which formerly had been required in all schools. In the ensuing cultural renaissance, YOON’s songs increasingly made children’s lives gayer and cultivated their ability to observe and think.

His works benefiting children are legion: reading, singing and citizenship clubs; orchestras; children’s and mothers’ essay, verse and song contests; a children’s magazine; school songs requested by remote institutions, and books of songs and verse for all elementary grades. He founded and became president of Saesakhoe, the “New Bud Society,” a children’s welfare organization. Amidst the terrible trauma of the Korean War, when so much of the “land of the morning calm” was devastated, his poems and songs that young people had learned became a national asset.

Convinced that what children hear and read is at least as important as the clothes they wear and food they eat, YOON has broadened his writings to include stories of people and leaders around the world. From him a new generation of young Koreans is gaining an invaluable awareness of the increasingly interdependent world in which we all must live.

In electing YOON SUK JOONG to receive the 1978 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Journalism, Literature and Creative Communication Arts, the Board of Trustees recognizes his more than 1,000 poems and songs that over 40 years have fostered joyful, positive values among Korean children.

Availing of my presence at these Presentation Ceremonies of the 1978 Ramon Magsaysay Award, I would like to express my wholehearted appreciation for this most precious and honored award. And on this 71st birth anniversary of the late Philippine President, may I say that he always stood on the side of the poor and the depressed–a guardian of freedom and justice.

I have written for more than 50 years, quietly and in loneliness, songs and poems for children of Korea, hoping to give them dreams, joy and hope.

As you may well know, the Korean people were forced to use Chinese characters for centuries, despite their own written language which originated as early as the 15th century, and to remain dumb, deaf and blind for 36 years under Japanese colonial domination. With the surrender of Japan at the end of World War II, Korea became independent, but, unfortunately, the peninsula was divided into south and north.

A famous poet once said, “the child is father of the man ” But I do not hesitate to say that the child is teacher of the man. I believe that we adults should try more to learn from children than to teach them. Honesty is what we should learn from children, since the world of adults is filled with hypocrisy and falsity. Goodness is what we should learn from children, since the world of adults is filled with insensitivity and injustice. Natural beauty is what we should learn from children, since the world of adults is filled with artificial beauty and pretense. In short, the child is a moral mentor who shows us a world of honesty, goodness and beauty.

Though it is generally said that there is no frontier in love, differences of language, custom and environment may often cause misunderstanding between man and woman. Though it is generally said that there is no frontier in religion, the variety of beliefs today is so great that their walls may be too thick to remove. Though it is generally said that there is no frontier in art, works of art are difficult to project on the world stage when they are not backed up by national strength.

I am confident, however, that the hearts of children know no frontier. What is the heart of a child? It is the very nature of man. It is the very conscience of man. The hearts of children, therefore, can freely converse even with the animals, trees and stones, and friendship is exchanged among them, over and above the limits of time and space. Let us return to the hearts of children. With such hearts of innocence, honesty, goodness and beauty as children have in themselves, let us all build a heaven on earth where the different human races could dwell as one family.

I would like to say that this award will be a source of inspiration and encouragement to me, which will revitalize my life-long service in the cause of children’s well-being.

Before concluding, may I quote from the sayings of the late President Magsaysay as follows: “Though I hold the office of President, I am but a plain soldier of this country at heart.” As for me, may I say: “Though I am a man of letters by profession, I will remain a humble child-caretaker forever.”