His early poems discarded the trend of nihilistic, traditional lyric poetry from the postwar period, to explore the possibilities of transcending the pain of reality within the tense relationship between the dreams of self and of the external world.
Even as his poetry addressed the conflict and strife of conflicting ideas or elements like pain and celebration, water and fire, heaviness and lightness, and sadness and happiness, it explored the dynamic tension of a mentality that sought to transform pain into happiness, and reality into a dream.
He continued this poetic exploration in his second and third books of poems, I'm Mr. Star (Naneun byeolajeossi) and Like a bean that has fallen and bounced up (Tteoreojyeodo twineun gongcheoreom).
[4] Chong's fourth collection, There's Not a Lot of Time to Love (Saranghal sigani manchi anta), was a turning point in the poet's career, in its examination of the rapture and acceptance of life, and the wonders of nature.
"A Foot" (Ja), a poem that claims civilization and artificiality are suppressing mankind, and that nature is the sole means for salvation, is a direct manifestation of the poet's shift in thematic focus.