How did French Symbolist poetry influence Korean poets after 1919?

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Following the 1919 independence movement, French Symbolist poetry exerted a significant influence on Korean literature, primarily through the efforts of translator Kim Ŏk. By introducing the works of poets such as Paul Verlaine, Rémy de Gourmont, and Stéphane Mallarmé, Kim provided Korean writers with new tools to counter the prevailing didacticism, rhetoric, and sentimentality of the era.1

The Symbolist movement offered Korean poets a framework of indirection and suggestiveness that resonated with those seeking to express their despair and frustration following the collapse of the independence movement. This influence was characterized by:

Adoption of Free Verse: Kim Ŏk identified free verse as the supreme creation of the Symbolists, encouraging its use as a departure from traditional prosody.1
Thematic Shifts: The movement introduced an aesthetic focused on the exotic and melancholy beauty of autumn, as well as expressions of ennui and anguish.1
Key Publications: This fascination culminated in the 1921 publication of Onoe ŭi mudo ("Dance of Anguish"), which served as the first Korean collection of translations from Western poetry.1