＜Ok-yi's Letter＞ 공감과 연민 - 윤동재 시인의 ＜옥이 편지＞

[김문철]

Ok-yi's Letter

by D.J. YOON

I am Ok-yi, a third grader in elementary school

This is Seoul

God, do you know how to read Hangul?

I believe you will read my Hangul letter and definitely reply.

Both my parents have passed away

My eldest sister god married and lives separately

My second sister works at a factory and lives with me.

It's winter, but we still can't afford to burn coal briquettes

We get rice from the Catholic church

Our only side dishes are soy sauce and kimchi that my eldest sister brings

With the money my second sister earns at the factory

We can barely pay rent even for a room where we can stretch out our legs

God, why don't you give us parents and a room where we can stretch out our legs?

God, I want to hear from you quickly

So it costs a little more, but I'm sending it by express mail

God, I really want to hear from you

God, you'll answer, right? God, you'll answer, right?

옥이 편지

-윤동재

저는 초등학교 3학년 옥이입니다

여기는 서울입니다

하느님 한글 읽을 줄 아시지요?

제 한글 편지 읽으시고 답장 꼭 주시리라 믿어요

부모님 두 분 다 돌아가시고

큰언니는 시집가서 살고

작은언니는 공장에 다니면서

저와 함께 삽니다

겨울인데 저희는 아직

연탄도 못 때고 살아요

쌀은 성당에서 얻고

반찬은 큰언니가 갖다주는 간장과 김치가 전부

작은언니가 공장에 나가서 벌어 오는 돈으로는

두 다리 쭉 펴고 누울 수도 없는 방이지만 방세 주기 빠듯해요

하느님, 어째서 저희에게는 부모님도

두 다리 쭉 펴고 누울 수 있는 방도 허락해 주시지 않나요?

하느님 답장 빨리 받고 싶어

돈이 조금 더 들지만 빠른 우편으로 보냅니다

하느님 답장 꼭 받고 싶어요

하느님 답장 주실 거죠? 하느님 답장 꼭 주실 거죠?

Appreciation Review 感想

This is a deeply moving and beautifully simple poem that captures a child’s innocent voice amidst hardship with remarkable clarity.

Through Ok-i’s earnest questions and quiet hope, the poem gently reveals the realities of poverty and loss without ever losing the warmth of a child’s belief in love and justice.

The details — like living on kimchi and soy sauce, or sending an express letter to God — are heartbreakingly real, yet portrayed with touching sincerity.

It’s a poignant reminder of the resilience found in a child’s heart, and the poem’s unfiltered honesty makes it especially powerful for young readers learning about empathy, kindness, and the strength of hope.

#편지  #하느님  #답장  #공감  #연민

[김문철]

어린 독자들에게 공감과 연민, 그리고 진정한 희망의 의미를 배울 수 있게 해줍니다.^^

[윤동재]

감사합니다