The JoongAng Ilbo published an article about Bob Dylan on Oct. 13 under the title 'Bob Dylan of 'Blowin' in the Wind' wins Nobel Prize in literature as poet' on its front page.  


 U.S. musician Bob Dylan, aged 75, won the 2016 Nobel Prize in literature. The KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm announced on Oct. 13 that he was awarded the prize for creating new poetic expressions in great U.S. music traditions. The institute said, "Dylan, who was affected by early artists of the Beat Generation and modernist poets, has released numerous albums dealing with humans' social condition, religion, politics and love. His lyrics have been continuously published as lyric poetry. He has actively worked as artists including actor, painter and play writer."   

Korean newspapers gave prominent coverage to the award. As Dylan, who is more famous as a singer than as a poet, wins the award, the Dong-a Ilbo used the lyrics of his song "Blowin' in the Wind" in one of its headlines on Oct. 13. On the same day, the Kyunghyang Shinmun also dealt with Bob Dylan on its front page. Under the title "Blowin' in the Wind," it said that this is the first time for a musician of popular music to win a literature prize in the 115 years since the prize was created in 1901.

He was born to a Jewish family and his real name was Robert Allen Zimmerman, or "Shabtai Zisl Ben Avraham" in Hebrew. He became famous around the world for criticizing the irrationalities in U.S. society, opposing war and signing about peace. He influences Korean fork singers in the 1970s, like Han Dae-su, Kim Min-ki, Yang Byeong-jip and Seo Yu-seok. Kim Gwang-seok, who came 10 years after them, remade Dylan's song "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" and sung a new version of it titled "A Car on Two Wheels."

The JoongAng Ilbo dealt with this topic in a front page story under the headline "Bob Dylan of 'Blowin' in the Wind' wins Nobel Prize in literature as poet." It said, "Dylan, whose songs also affected the pro-democracy movement and students in Korea, crafted lyrics that reflect and are against real aspects of society. As he became the first musician of popular music to win a Nobel Prize, he has opened up a new horizon in cultural history."

The award ceremony will be held on Dec. 10, the day Alfred Nobel himself died.   

Korea.net Staff Writers