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Why is “Orioles’ Song” considered important in the history of Korean poetry?
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"Orioles’ Song," or "Hwangjo ka," is considered significant in the history of Korean poetry because it is widely regarded as the first lyric poem in Korean literature.1
Composed in 17 BCE in Chinese, the poem is attributed to King Yuri of the Koguryo kingdom. It is historically important for its shift in focus from the communal or mythic themes common in earlier oral traditions to the expression of individual emotion, specifically evoking the personal loneliness of the king.1