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In-depthReportonCulture
seok, who is a literary critic, last ten years
the works of such popular established
of Korean literature shows a “polarization
authors as Shin Kyung-sook, Park Wan-
of the fiction market and a stagnation of
seo, or Kim Hoon to make a big profit. In
poetry.” He observed that except only a
this way, they also publish the works of
small number of Korean writers, it is rare
new or talented but unknown writers. This
forwriterstosellmorethan10,000copies.
is because the companies cherish their
It is difficult enough to sell 3000 copies.
brand value, trying to pick out outstanding
Even so, “Gongmudoha” written by Kim
works. However, the problem is that while
Hoon, famous for his other work called
the publishers won’t make a big loss when
“Namhansansung”, was published in last
publishing a certain work two or three
October and made the best sell list about
times, the authors lose big due to scant
ten days after printing. Lee Oe-su’s “Haak
sales.Toearnabout20millionor30million
Thereasons
Haak” was number 1 on the chart for
won a year, a writer should sell more than
canbeanalyzed
over nine weeks. These facts indicate that
10,000copies.
there are polarization in the field Korean
The second reason has to do with the
infourcategories:
literature, remaining so to date. How
debut system, which is problematic in
publishingfirms,
so? The reasons can be analyzed in four
that it doesn’t have enough power to let
debutsystem,
categories: publishing firms, debut system,
authors continue writing. Generally, if one
writers,andreaders.
wins a contest, he or she directly becomes
writers,and
a star overnight. Is it an effective system
readers.
for writers in the true meaning of the
Whatmakesthelifeofwriters
word, though? How come many writers
difficult?
The first reason for the polarization of
have trouble working even if they have
Koreanliteraturelieswithpublishingfirms.
won a prize? Gang Kyung-seok, a literary
Thisisbecausealthoughone’sworkshould
critic, said that literary contests in Korea
bejudgedbyestheticvaluesbasedontruth,
are also polarized. It means that there is
quality,andbeautyinprinciple,thereexists
a difference of scale and power among
a tacit agreement among the publishing
the contests. He explained, “The annual
companiesformedfirstbypersonalrelations
springliterarycontestsconductedbymajor
like school ties, regionalism, and kinship
newspaperscangenerategreaterpromotion
ties.Thatmeansawriterwhoisconnected
fornewwritersandsupportsothattheycan
withsomeoneatapublishingcompanycan
let many people know about their works.
introduce his or her works to people more
However, local contests or contests by
The novel “Take Good Care of
easily. The second thing is public opinion
minor newspaper are not as productive.”
Mom”writtenbyShinKyung-suk
that is unspoken in the publishing world.
Meanwhile, new literary awards have
That means if there is some kind of an
recently emerged offering 100million
assessment about a writer, it spreads fast
won to the winner. Now there are 7 such
throughout the entire publishing world.
awards - Segye Literary Award and New
That’s why if a writer once becomes
Wave Literary Award of Chosun Ilbo, etc..
devaluated, he or she won’t be able to
Except for the former, most awards had
work again easily. The profit structure of
their start between 2007 and 2009. Munsa
publishing companies is another element
Novel Award came up in 2008 while
affecting the Korean literary world. Major
MultiLiterary Award did in 2009. They
publishing companies such as Changbi,
are blamed for exerting a weak influence,
Minumsa, Munhakdongne, and Woongjin
however. Many prize-winning works don’t
register sales annually to the tune of 50
sellwell,noteven100,000copies.Literary
billionwon,promotingbusinesswithmany
awards were created in a rush at the end
familiar brand names. These firms publish
of the 1990s and, since 2000s, they have
2010
MARCH

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