Netflix's 'My Name is Ahsun' Features a Dreaming Poet from Jeju

In the Netflix drama 'My Name is Ahsun' (폭싹 속았수다), the character Ahsun, played by IU, cherishes a poetry collection titled 'Cheongma Poetry Collection' (청마시초), first published in 1939 by poet Yoo Chi-hwan. Ahsun, who dreams of becoming a poet, expresses her determination to marry someone from Seoul, declaring to her admirer Kwan-sik (played by Park Bo-gum) that she will never marry a local. This sentiment resonates deeply with Kwan-sik, who, despite his feelings, recites lines from Yoo Chi-hwan's poem 'Flag,' which begins with the phrase, "This is a silent outcry / Waving towards the blue sea / An eternal handkerchief of nostalgia." This moment has gained popularity on platforms like YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels. The poem's lines, such as "Purity flutters like waves in the wind / At the end of a clear and straight ideological pole / Longing spreads its wings like a white heron," reflect Kwan-sik's unwavering affection for Ahsun since childhood. However, Ahsun ultimately succumbs to the pressures of reality, abandoning her dreams of college and becoming a poet, even burning her cherished 'Cheongma Poetry Collection.' Yet, as Yoo Chi-hwan suggests in his preface, poetry is not merely a degree but a heartfelt expression of the world around us. He poignantly writes about the loneliness and pride that come with the pursuit of poetry, emphasizing its profound impact on one's life.