Park Sang-cheol Releases First Poetry Collection 'Scarecrow' Under Pen Name Park Chul

Singer Park Sang-cheol has released his first poetry collection, 'Scarecrow,' under the pen name Park Chul. Known to the public for songs such as 'Jaok-ah,' 'Mujogeon' and 'Hwang Jin-yi,' he turns stories of life that he could not fully convey in song on stage into poetry in this book.

Since the 2000s, Park Sang-cheol has moved between event venues and broadcast stages as a trot singer bringing the comfort of popular music to audiences. He is also currently serving as president of the Korea Singers Association, making this publication a moment in which Park Sang-cheol expands his own language beyond song.

A Nexen Media hardcover published under the pen name Park Chul

'Scarecrow' is a hardcover poetry collection published by Nexen Media. The author is introduced as 'Gain Park Chul (Park Sang-cheol).'

The book introduction lists his background as being born in Samcheok, Gangwon Province, graduating from the Department of Broadcasting and Entertainment at Kangwon National University, and serving as president of the Korea Singers Association. The title poem 'Scarecrow' is presented as the winner in the poetry category at the 2025 Oryukdo Shinmun New Year's Literary Contest.

2025 New Year's literary contest winner 'Scarecrow'

'Scarecrow' is a work that evokes the time ordinary people have endured through a figure that silently keeps its place. Park Sang-cheol said, "I wanted to unfold in poetry the stories of life that I could not express through song on stage."

As those words suggest, the book's gaze rests less on the glittering stage than on the faces of people who have endured for a long time. If song bursts emotion through applause and choruses, the poetry collection holds onto the thoughts that remain after those emotions have passed.

Includes 'Gold Price,' 'Sabbatical Year' and 'Honey, Come With Me'

Park Sang-cheol's signature songs have crossed generations with simple, powerful choruses. 'Mujogeon' speaks in direct words of love, while 'Hwang Jin-yi' and 'Jaok-ah' push forward the distinctive emotions of trot with clarity.

By contrast, the emotions addressed in 'Scarecrow' are lower and slower. Even as it uses familiar words such as love, longing, loneliness and hope, it looks toward the sadness that remains in everyday life rather than the exaggeration of the stage.

Known included works include 'Gold Price,' 'Sabbatical Year' and 'Honey, Come With Me.' Themes such as moments when the value of money presses down on life, the heart that accepts time to rest as a new beginning, and the rough affection of a couple who have lived together for a long time meet the common people's emotions that trot has long held onto.

The attention around a first poetry collection may pass quickly. Still, with this publication, Park Sang-cheol has placed the pen name Park Chul alongside his familiar name as a singer on stage.