In this issue, we examine the rise of science fiction in South Korea, tracing its historical roots back to the early twentieth century and looking at some of its most salient writers. In the past few decades, South Korea has become a major player in global science fiction production, not only in the form of translated books but also OTT movies, games, and webtoons. In this climate of intense science fiction production and consumption, we thought it would be relevant to ask, “What is Korean about Korean SF?” Put differently, “Is there such a thing as Korean SF?” These are deliberately polemical questions aimed at uncovering the unique dynamism and power of Korean science fiction. The answers we received from literary critics Sang-Keun Yoo, Yang Yun-eui, and influential Korean SF author Kim Bo-young are also lively and polemical.

      Our featured writer is poet Kim So Yeon whose latest poetry collection Catalyzing Night was published last year to great acclaim. She speaks with Lee Jenny, another well-known poet, about poetry and politics, the female voice, aging, and the ten years it took to complete this book. In the Bookmark section, we introduce you to the short stoies of Lee Jangwook and Kim Umji, and poems by Park YeonJoon and Kim Bok Hui. In our Inkstone corner, we bring you an excerpt from Record of the Virtue of Queen Inhyeon, Lady Min, a fictive reconstruction of one of the best-known episodes of Joseon court history: the story of the fearsome rivalry between King Sukjong’s Queen Inhyeon and his treacherous Consort Jang Hui (better known as Jang Hui Bin).

      From Joseon dynasty historical fiction to science fiction, there is much to savor and ponder in this issue of Korean Literature Now. We invite you to take a plunge and enjoy.

— Min Eun Kyung

Editorial Board Member, KLN