Born in Kunsan (North Cholla Province) in 1933, Ko Un is the most controversial and the most prolific Korean writer at present alive. He has published well over a hundred volumes of poetry, fiction, essays, translations, and drama. He has led a remarkable life-as a Buddhist monk, a depressive who attempted suicide, and a political activist-as well as a highly regarded writer. His poetic language is vivid and colloquial, marked by popular speech rhythms rather than by literary conventions. His intense longing for the reunification of Korea is expressed in many places and his main concern has always been to express the historic identity of the Korean people as a whole. In recent years he has gained an international reputation, and has talked and given readings in the United States, Australia, France, Holland, and Germany. Translations of his work have been published in several languages.

Korean Literary Awards (1974, 1987)
Manhae Literary Awards (1989)
Daesan Literary Awards (1994)
Manhae Grand Prize (1998)
Buddhist Literary Awards (1999)
Shortlisted for the Nobel Prize for Literature (2002, 2004)
Danjae Prize (2004)
Unification Award (2005)
Bjornson Order for Literature, The Norwegian Order for Literary Merits (2005)
Cikada Prize (2006)

Ko Un's elegant website can be found at Koun.co.kr

On 2006, the third annual Cikada Prize was awarded to Ko Un.