Science Fiction in Korea: Between History, Genre, and Politics

A Brief History of South Korean SF Magazines

Prior to the 1990s, South Korea had no magazine that specialized in publishing science fiction. Instead, the genre’s writers found their publication outlets in youth magazines, science periodicals, and mainstream literary journals. Such had been the situation ever since the colonial era (1911–1945). The magazine Science Korea (Kwahak Chosŏn) and Children (Ŏrini), for instance, respectively published Pang In’gŭn’s incomplete novel Goddess (Yŏsin; 1939) and Hŏ Munil’s short story “Brave Boy from Mars” (“Ch’ŏn’gong ŭi yong sonyŏn”; 1930). In the 1950s and the 1960s, several youth science magazines emerged to become the main publication venues for translations, adaptations, and creative works in the genre. Of these, Student Science (Haksaeng kwahak) was the most important, but there were also Youth (Sonyŏn), Campus (Hagwŏn), Science World (Kwahak segye), and Science Century (Kwanhak segi) [Fig. 3-1]. The few sf stories that were published in literary journals may be better catalogued as examples of speculative fiction, as they used futuristic sci-fi settings primarily to advance a social critique. Such was the case with Kim Yunju’s existentialist post-nuclear apocalypse novella “A Relief of the Apocalypse” (“Chaeang pujo”; 1960), which appeared in Freedom literature (Chayu munhak) and with Cho Haeil’s surreal political satire “The Year 1998” (“1998-yŏn”; 1973), which was published in Generation (Sedae).

Magazines devoted to sf began to appear from the early 1990s on, but most of them were short-lived, reflecting the genre’s marginal status in the South Korean cultural industry. The first of its kind, SF Magazine (SF maegŏjin), was launched in 1993 by the Nagyŏng Munhwa Publisher [Fig. 3-2]. The publisher also put out a series of translated Western sf classics. SF magazine was distributed exclusively to the paid members of the publisher’s sf book club and was not available at bookstores. Although sf fans were enthusiastic about its appearance, the title was discontinued after only two issues. In 2004, another sf-friendly publisher, Haengbokhan ch’aekikgi (Happy reading), introduced Happy SF, the first sf magazine that was sold at bookstores. This title, too, was discontinued after the second issue. Sf works were also published in fantasy magazines such as Excalibur (Eksŭk’allibŏ) and Real Fantasy (Riŏl p’ant’a). More magazines came out in the field of comics, including Warp (Wŏp’ŭ) and the Korean version of the American sf magazine Heavy Metal. Finally, Fantastique (P’ant’astik) gave priority to science fiction despite its title [Fig. 3-3]. Published from 2007 through 2012, this magazine survived longest by being inclusive of other adjacent popular genres such as horror, mystery, and fantasy.

Complementing these print magazines were online publications, where science fiction has enjoyed a strong presence. The reviewing website Monthly SF Webzine (Wŏlgan SF webjin; 1999–2001), which was run by writer Chang Kangmyŏng, lasted for seventeen issues and cumulatively garnered over ten thousand views during its existence. The website alt. SF, an anonymously edited blog, enjoyed broad popularity for its sharply critical postings throughout its duration (2009–2016). Finally, Crossroads (2005– ), a webzine edited by the Asia-Pacific Center for Theoretical Physics at the Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), publishes articles on the culture of science and has consistently put out original sf stories as well as anthologies in book form.

Any historical overview of South Korean sf magazines would be incomplete without an account of fanzines, which served as cradles and lifeboats for sf writers through the rise and fall of the aforementioned magazines. The Brave New World (Mŏtchin sin segye; 1992) was the fanzine of South Korea’s first offline sf fan club. Among the contributors to it were Kim Changgyu, who is now an established SF writer, and Ch’oe Hyŏnjun, whose contributions include the thirteen issues of the magazine Science Fiction (Kwahak sosŏl; 1993–1999). Yet another prominent figure is Chŏn Hongsik, the founder of the SF & Fantasy Library as well as the editor and publisher of magazines such as the Joy SF Zine (2007–2008) and Futuroscope (Miraegyŏng; 2009–). [Fig. 3-4].

In recent years, science fiction has been attracting an increasing number of new-generation writers, but they still have to cope with the limited publication venues. Aside from actively contributing to science magazines, in particular Donga Science (Kwahak Dong’a; 1986–  ) and Epi (Epi; 2017– ), sf writers and fans have also been trying to self-help by reviving sf-focused magazines. Their efforts have yielded Today’s SF (Onŭl ŭi SF; 2019– ) and The Earthian Tales (2021– ). The former has produced only two issues so far, while the latter, which is sponsored by Arzak Press as well as a national foundation, promises to write a new chapter in the history of sf magazines in South Korea. There is much hope in these projects, which may eventually endow the South Korean sf fan community with a long-lasting publication of reference.

Translated by Sunyoung Park

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