The Gazette recently met the famous fairy tale writer Kim Myung-hee. She graduated from Keimyung University in 2006, majoring in creative writing. Now she is a Keimyung graduate student. Don't be surprised! She is 48 years old now. Most people think that it is a time to arrange and review their lives; however, she never thinks about that. She continues to work for her dream and a better future. She recently won the Buddha Literary Prize, a prize only awarded to writers who have worked for over 7 years in their literary field. It is also only awarded to one writer every 5 years. She has also received many other prizes such as the Hwang-Jin Literary Prize and the Noksan Literary Prize.

Let’s meet this inspirational woman!

1. What do you usually do for a living?
Before I entered Keimyung, I had already worked in the field of fairy tales. While working in my own field, I also study creative writing as a graduate student. In addition, I'm teaching writing to children and the disabled in Andong. I have taken classes since 2004, but I can't now because I had a car accident last year. Even though I am not yet fully recovered, I am still interested in studying.

2. Were there any difficulties as a late learner entering Keimyung University?
The most difficult problem I had was with English. I had a hard time studying the required courses Practical English and Everyday English Conversation. Young students helped me and I was grateful for that. Once, when I entered an English class without a book, my foreign professor took a point off my score. At that time, I felt it was so rough.

3. Do you have special memories from your work?
As I mentioned, I had a car accident last year and was in a hospital for one month. Even though I felt very sick, I was happy because I could write for that month. It was like I had escaped my busy life. Of course, there were difficulties. I couldn't write with my hand because of an infection, so I grasped my pen with my forefinger and middle finger and kept it in place with tape. In that way I wrote the book that won the Buddha Literary Prize.

4. What are the advantages of majoring in fairy tales, as opposed to other literary fields?
It is necessary to think about my individual experience to make fairy tales for adults, which don’t need to be fairy tales for children. There are many fresh ideas and raw materials for stories. I am sure that the world has changed a lot and is becoming more desolate as time passes. Be innocent! You might see a more beautiful world than before, and can meet that wide beautiful world.

5. Would you tell us about your campus life?
I entered Keimyung when I was 44 years old. I acted cautiously towards younger students at first, but I felt uncomfortable. Therefore, I changed my mind and thought of them as younger sisters and brothers. Finally, we could become friends. We became familiar with each other, and they called me big sister. It was a great time.

6. Would you say something to the Gazette readers who think that it is too late to begin something?
I’ve never thought that it is too late to begin something. Don't think about that and don't say that. I never tell to my daughters that. Beginning is important. I think a beginning is the way to learn something new. If you find what you want, start, and don't think about difficulties so much.

7. What are your plans for the future?
Most of the children who I have taught have emotional disturbances, so I want to write for them and help cure them. In addition, I'll develop myself continuously and enjoy my challenging life regardless of my age.