Senior adviser and former editorial writer at the Herald Business Min Byung-moon and his long-time friend Korean Olympic Committee President Park Yong-sung published a poetry book accompanied with photographs on Monday.

The book titled “Moon at Daybreak” consists of some 80 pieces of poetry by Min and some 130 photographs taken by Park. Min and Park have been close friends since their college years at Seoul National University in the 1960s. 

The two took very different life paths after graduating. Min, who dreamed of becoming a poet, became a journalist and Park, who wanted to become a photographer in college, became a successful entrepreneur in Korea.

The book project was designed to fulfill their long lost dreams, the two said. The project started last year as Min suggested Park take photos for his upcoming collection of poems.

Min said his book is also for people who have lost their sense of humor and the pleasure of reading poetry.

“Our society is filled with people exchanging rough words because they no longer read and appreciate poems. Politicians would gain a sense of humor by reading poems. And then scuffles at the National Assembly would also disappear,” Min said at an event held at Chung-Ang University in Seoul on Monday to celebrate the publication.

Guests including SK Group’s honorary chairman Son Kil-seung and Commission on Shared Growth for Large and Small Companies Chairman Yoo Jang-hee attended the event.

By Cho Chung-un (christory@heraldcorp.com)