Kyobo Life Insurance announced on March 3 that it has selected "Spring, the Miracle We Know Best" as the new message for the spring edition of its Gwanghwamun Display. The phrase is an excerpt from poet Kim So-yeon's prose collection "A Dictionary of Single Characters."
Kim made her literary debut in 1993, publishing poems including "We Praise" in the winter edition of the journal Hyundae Sisa-sang. She gained attention in literary circles for redefining familiar words with fresh meanings, as if writing poetry. She received the 10th Nojak Literary Award for "Fortunate Things" and four other poems, and the 57th Hyundae Munhak Award for seven works including "Okinawa, Tunisia, Francis Jammes."
The new message reminds viewers that miracles are not far away but close at hand, as flowers bloom and new life emerges each spring. It also conveys a message to reflect on the preciousness of everyday life as the season changes.
The design reinterprets traditional Korean folk painting. It features a green background suited to vibrant spring, with vigorously extending tree branches, flowers, and birds that herald the season. The design also aims to showcase Korean aesthetic beauty to the many foreign tourists who gather at Gwanghwamun.
Kyobo Life holds public submissions each season to select messages for the Gwanghwamun Display. This marks the eighth time a citizen-recommended work has been selected.
Lee Ju-heon, who recommended this message, said, "I wanted to convey that there are many miracles around us that we overlook because they are so familiar. I hope the Gwanghwamun Display becomes an opportunity for people to catch their breath amid their busy daily lives."