(English) Park Yeongok was born in Seoul in 1973. She completed her undergraduate studies at Hongik University before pursuing further education at Florida International University (FIU) and at the University of Florida’s (UF) graduate school. She received a master’s degree in education at Hongik University, where she also began studying for a doctorate in educational psychology in the Department of Education. It was at this time that she began writing. She has taught elementary English for a number of years and currently works as a writer.

She made her literary debut in 2014, winning both the Adong Munye (children’s literature) Literary Prize and the Joeun Supil (good essay) New Writer’s Award. She also received the Munhak Gwangjang (Literature Plaza) New Writer’s Literary Prize and an Encouragement Award in storytelling in the Neul Pureun Wuriddang (Always Green, our land) contest.

She wrote The Fastest Old Man in Hurry Hurry Land, which was selected for the KBS Children’s Story Book Report Contest; and she published her essays in Samtoh, Monthly Essay, Joeun Supil, and Joeun Supil Munhak (good essay literature). She also wrote the books Liar, Wang Bareum (Goraebook Library); Run, Hope, a multicultural story (Jungin Books); and My Friend, Ri Kuchol! a tale of friendship between one child from North Korea and one from South Korea (Shim Books, Shim Children).