Who was Lee Jung-seob (이중섭 李仲燮)?

 ANSWER: Lee Jung-seob (이중섭) was a Korean artist who was born and raised (1916 - 1956) in Korea while Korea was still under Japanese rule. He married a woman named Yamamoto Masako and had three children of whom one died in 1946. Out of financial hardship and fear for his family's safety, he sent his wife and two remaining children to Japan to live during the Korean war. Though their separation was meant to be only temporary, Mr. Lee was never able to be with his family again, except during a 5-day visit to Tokyo in 1953. He is probably most well known for an oil painting called "The White Ox" (흰소), but he is also known for the letters and postcards he sent to his wife and children in Japan. Mr. Lee died of hepatitis in 1956 when he was only 40 years old. 

The photos below are of a book I have on Mr. Lee. The first photo is of the cover of the book, the second is of his painting "The White Ox," and the third is of one Mr. Lee's letters to his wife. Notice that the letter was written in Japanese and decorated with pictures. I have also added a link to a YouTube video about Mr. Lee, and you can read more about Lee Jung-seob HERE.