[1] Ha Geun-chan was born on October 21, 1931, in Yeongcheon, Keishōhoku-dō (North Gyeongsang Province), Korea, Empire of Japan and died on November 25, 2007.
In fact, not uncommonly, he did not learn Korean in earnest until he entered higher education, in this case a teacher's college.
Ha entered Dong-a University, but did not complete his studies, and after serving his military service in 1958, began a career as a writer.
In “Excrement” (Bun), a mother empties her bowels in the township office for not exempting her son from military conscription.
At times comical and even obtuse, Ha Geunchan's characters nonetheless possess the strength of will to survive, the heartiness to endure and the regenerative spirit rooted in simple faith.