The History of Modern Korean Fiction (1890-1945): The Topography of Literary Systems and Form - Paperback

by Young Min Kim (Author), Jooyeon Rhee (Afterword by), Theodore Jun Yoo (Introduction by)

This book explores the history of modern Korean literature from a sociocultural perspective. Rather than focusing solely on specific authors and their works, Young Min Kim argues that the development of modern media, shifting conceptualizations of the author, and a growing mass readership fundamentally shaped the types of narratives that appeared at the turn of the twentieth century. In particular, Kim follows the trajectory of the sin sosol (new fiction) as it meshed with the new print and media culture to give rise to innovative and hybrid genres and literary styles. In doing so, he compellingly illuminates the relationship between literary systems and forms and underscores the necessity of re-locating literary texts in their sociohistorical contexts.

Author Biography

Young Min Kim is former director of the Institute for the Study of Korean Modernity and professor in the Department of Korean Language and Literature at Yonsei University.