VOL.69/2024.04

Golden Bough

Fresh! Fun! Creative! The Growth of South Korea's 'Genre Literature' Minumsa Publishing Group's Imprint "Golden Bough" Specializing in Genre Literature

 

2017.8.18

 

Genre literature refers to novels that deal with a number of subjects, like horror, science fiction, chivalry, fear, mystery, fantasy and romance. Not only can they be read in physical books but in e-books and online series as well, making it easy for these genres to secure a fan base. In the case of online novels, it has acted as a driving force for genre literature and transformed into a gateway for budding novelists. Perhaps this is the reason why these works show much variety in subject matter and entertain readers with their fresh, creative content that sometimes throws messages at society. This month's 'Korea publisher' corner has sought out two publishers specializing in genre literature and spoke to them about the now and future of Korea's genre literature.

 

A series of overseas genre novels published through Golden Bough

 

Minumsa Publishing Group's genre literature-specific imprint Golden Bough was established in 1996 as a separate corporation. It has been broadening its territory on the country's literary scene by introducing diverse foreign works to Korean readers. Recently it has been making efforts in seeking out new Korean writers by creating an online novel platform called BritG (Brilliant Tales G).  

 

A special hardcover collection to mark the 10th anniversary of Dragon Raja by Yeong-do Lee

 

Golden Bough's most representative work is, with no doubt, Yeong-do Lee's Dragon Raja, which is also well-known outside South Korea. Lee has been called the master of genre literature in South Korea. For some readers of today who are accustomed to reading in both physical form and on digital platforms, they may find online genre novels a bit strange with their swift narrative focused on characters. They also might not be accustomed to experiencing the space between sentences or the sentimental value in paper books. Efforts to reduce that area of unfamiliarity by publishers go on today. The following is an interview with Jun-hyuk Kim at Golden Bough.

 

Please introduce Golden Bough for us

Golden Bough has imported many famous foreign genre novels into South Korea, but it also works to help writers here grow as well. In the case of foreign publications, we have the only contract here with Stephen King and for novels by Agatha Christie. Aside these we have also published the Sherlock Holmes series as well as short stories by Arther Clarke. In 2015, we published Stephen King's first mystery novel Mr.Mercedes and recently Pierce Brown's Red Rising trilogy. I think it's meaningful work that we do - that we get to introduce great books by great authors in South Korea.

 

Introduction to BritG(https://britg.kr)

 

We think much about how we can discover new genre writers in Korea. Early this year, after much preparation we launched our online novel platform 'BritG'. It's a place we created in order to find specialized authors in a certain genre. We are aware there are many websites for web novels. But what sets BritG apart is the fact that readers can leave reviews. Outside South Korea there are many critics and commentators for literary genres and that has helped their markets grow. The readers who take part in BritG can leave their own reviews and also communicate directly with the authors. Also, the editors can read all the works on the website and sometimes find gems among them.
It's hard work for editors but recently we really found a gem among the works there. It's a novel called The Gold of Piercliven by a very good author with a very firm narrative, polished quality with a story that captivates readers that's good enough to be published both online and offline. We feel a massive sense of achievement when we are able to introduce good content for readers from both overseas and at home.

 

Any books from Golden Bough you would like to introduce for readers abroad?

There are as many great novels in South Korea as there are overseas. Among them, there are a few I would like to recommend. Yeong-do Lee's was first published in 2003 and it's a series I can confidently say, "This is Korean fantasy." Also, Tae-hwan Hwang's is a zombie novel that was introduced in our Million Seller series. This story nabbed a literary prize in our Zombie Apocalypse competition and tells the story of how desperate situations can force a man's true nature to surface. Lastly, I'd like to mention Min-young Kim's , which is the revised version of which was published in 1999. It is a game novel by Kim, who has much scientific knowledge. It's well known as one of South Korea's best-hidden gems but this was the first and last work of this author, to the disappointment of many readers. Genre literature subjects vary among countries and the characteristics of readers that take the books in are different but the books just mentioned would be accepted well in any country.

 

Do you think South Korea's genre literature will ever hit the best seller lists abroad?

The topics that are dealt with in South Korea's genre literature have evolved to a point where offshore readers now readily accept them compared to the past when all we had was stories on fantasy and chivalry. Talented authors who can stand nearly shoulder-to-shoulder with Yeong-do Lee are writing online novels, which are providing the basis upon which genre literature can grow. We're always open for foreign agencies who come looking for Korean genre literature. In hand with this, we need translators who have the courage to take on Korea's genre literature. We have high hopes for more good opportunities in the coming future.  

 

Minumsa Publishing Group : http://minumsa.com/english

 

 

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Written by Ji-hye Gwon