Lee Eun-Sang (1903-1982), poet

'Gagopa' written by Lee Eun-sang in 1932, is about homesickness, and it expressed Mr. Lee's wish to return to his country. Mr. Lee was born at 100 Sangnam-dong, Masan. When he was a child, he played with his friends near a spring next to his house at the hill of Mt. Nobsani. Whenever he visited Masan, he went to the spring as it was reminiscent of his childhood. 'Climbing up the Old Hill' and 'Symphony of Spring' both depict the days when he played on the hill of Mt.Nobisan.
During the time of the 3.1 Independence Movement, he was a student of Changshin School. He produced the national flag of Korea with his senior students and gave the flags to people at the declaration of independence. After graduating from the Yeonhui Special Profession School, he became a teacher at Changshin School. While he worked there, he published his poems in 'Gaebyeok' and 'Joseon's Literary World' and was interested in the revival of three verse Korean poetry.
He was recognized as one of Joseon's geniuses along with Yang, Ju Dong and Lee, Gwang Su when he was a student at Waseda University, Japan. He was called a 'walking encyclopaedia' because he had an encyclopedic knowledge of historical figures such as Yulgok and Toegye. He could even remember their dates of birth and death. He contributed so much to the modernization of poetry and literature. He is considered to be an influential figure in Korean literature.
He was also a well-known scholar. He did studies on General Lee Sun-Shin. He left about 100 literary works such as 'Collection of Poems of Nosan' and 'Selected Literary Works of Nosan'. Residents of Masan, proud of Lee Eun Sang, erected a monument on which the poem, 'Gagopa' is engraved.
The monument can be found in Sanho Park on top of Dot Island and below Mt. Muhaksan. In remembrance of the poet, every year, musicians in Masan hold a concert titled 'Nosan's Literature Night'.