Ten years after the publication of "Dictionary of the Mind," a special new work, "One-Character Dictionary," is released.
From "감" to "황": A Life Measured by 310 Single Characters

Poet Kim So-yeon's first collection of prose, "Dictionary of the Heart," was published in January 2008.
With the concept of 'words of the heart calculated with emotion and intuition', he defined each word that makes up the heart in his own poetic language, and many people have sympathized with it, underlined it, and talked about it.
To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the publication of 『Dictionary of the Heart』, which filled the hearts of countless readers, we are presenting a special new work.
The poet says that he wanted to send “greetings with the experience of ten years to those who read ‘Dictionary of the Heart,’” and that he completed ‘One-Character Dictionary’ solely with this in mind.
It was in the midst of these days of keeping a Korean dictionary next to my desk that the One-Character Dictionary finally arrived in January 2018.


『One-Character Dictionary』 is a book that most delicately assesses life, with 310 'one-character' characters, from '감' (feeling) to '흥' (feeling).
If you follow the layers of a single letter engraved in the poet's eyes, head, and heart, you can encounter new times, people, and the world.
It will also be an opportunity to rethink the perspectives and attitudes toward life that we have overlooked.

It is the sensation of everything that our hands touch, that surrounds our bodies, that we see, hear, touch and feel.
Soft textures provide comfort, textures of time inspire awe, delicate textures awaken our senses, and complex textures change our perspective.
---From "Knot"

A little closer than 'next to'.
The area between ‘me’ and ‘next to me’.

---From "layer"

In the best condition.

---Among "less"

Animals are peaceful, fish are green, and people are pitiful.

---From "etc."

A phrase used when one's desires are strong.
Mainly, when children want to play repeatedly, when superiors want to give advice repeatedly, when lovers don't want to break up, when words beget words, and when alcohol begets alcohol.

---From "Again"

This is what we believe in and live by the most.
This is what we worship and live for the most.
This is what disappoints us the most.
This is what gives us the most variety of disappointments.
This is what constantly gives us new disappointments.
So this is what I long for the most.
So, the body speaks to us.
In body language.
In a physical way.
With the body.
Listening to the language of the body is 'sensation', relying on the senses to listen to the language of the body is 'pain', responding to the language of the body is 'pain', and expressing gratitude for the body listening to its language is 'recovery'.
---From "Body"

With comrades, it is right to argue to narrow down minor differences and then end up defending them. With friends, it is right to deepen the conversation with minor differences and then become fascinated by the differences.
---From "Friend"

A human life cannot be anything other than ‘life.’
Unripe or uncooked, absurd and unproduced, original and inevitably vicious or harsh.
---From "Life"

Sometimes the good intentions of a person who is stubborn are no different from malicious intentions, and sometimes the good intentions of a person who tries hard not to be stubborn are similar to hypocrisy.
Only the most natural goodwill can reach someone without misunderstanding, but it is not easily felt, so it must be passed on through life.

---From "Line"

1.
What was already beautiful can no longer be beautiful, and what cannot be beautiful is made beautiful.
2.
The work of constructing truths that cannot be expressed through words and secrets that would be lost if spoken of in words.
3.
Proving that the language that betrays language is the most beautiful language.
---From "Poem"

It's not about figuring out what's inside by breaking it apart, but about planting it, watering it, and growing it.
---From "Mr."

Women are born as unwelcome younger sisters, become high school girls, then college girls, then waitresses, then office workers, then CEOs, then singers, doctors, teachers, professors, painters, or writers.
While men are born as welcomed younger brothers, become high school students, then college students, then company presidents, then singers, doctors, teachers, professors, painters, and writers.
---Among "women"

The best place for a person to be.
It's not a matter of being high or low in society, it's not a matter of being close or far in one's social circle, it's a matter of one person to another.
---From "next to"

First love can never be experienced twice.
First of all, it cannot be plural.
There are no second first impressions, first meetings, first steps, first buttons, or first hair.
But the first snow repeats itself infinitely.
I wait for it every year and welcome it every year.
---From "First"

Dancing to music is cool, dancing without music makes you laugh, and dancing without music somehow makes you cry.
A dance with many people is surrounded by spirit, a dance with two people is surrounded by love, and a dance with oneself is surrounded by the universe.
---From "Dance"

If you use force, you can help, and if you give force, you can emphasize.
If you put in effort, you can be sincere, and if you gain strength, you can be courageous.
If you are too weak, you will become frustrated, and if you are too weak, you will become unmanageable.
If you exert yourself, you can recover, and if you exert yourself, you can fall.
If you have strength, you can move the situation, and if you exert strength, you can change the situation.

---From "Strength"