By Chung Ah-young
Staff Reporter
It is already a widespread trend that veteran authors have turned to the Internet to release their novels before publishing hard copies.
Going one step furtherauthors, publishers and online bookstores are seeking to expand the horizons of the literary domain through the formation of literature Webzines.
Yes 24, the online bookstore, and seven major publishers ― Munhakdongne, Segyesa, Wisdom House, Jaeum and Moeum Publishing, Changbi Publishing and Hankyoreh Publishing ― have jointly opened the literary Webzine, ``Nabee’’ (www.nabeeya.net), to provide literary content and a community space for both readers and writers.
Also, Ppul, a publishing company of Woongjin Thinkbig, an education company and Aladdin, an online bookstore, have collaborated in operating the Webzine, Ppul (blog.aladdin.co.kr/ppul).
The current move is the first time local publishers and Internet book shops have operated their own Webzines, although there is a Webzine operated by the Arts Council of Korea, a state-run organization.
The cyberspaces are expected to be used to reinvigorate literature in the fast-changing information and technology age.
The on-line literature service is seen as part of a recent trend of the nation's top writers rushing to cyberspace to release their heavy-themed novels before releasing them as hard copies. Renowned novelist Park Bum-shin first triggered the boom by releasing his work, ``Cholatse,’’ on Naver, one of the nation’s major portals.
His huge success created a fad among fellow novelists who have started releasing their new works through portal sites, Internet bookstores and online readers’ communities and blogs.
Rising author Jung I-hyun, famous for her book, ``My Sweet Seoul,’’' posted her new novel, ``You Don't Know,’’' on the Kyobo Bookstore Web site.
Hwang Suk-young put his new serial novel, ``Gaebapbaragibyeol,’’ which means ``Venus'' in Korean, on Naver. Gong Ji-young also released her novel ``The Crucible’’ on Daum.
Additionally, one of the world’s top writers, Paulo Coelho, put his new work, "Winner Stands Alone'' on a local portal site to interact with Korean fans.
However, these Webzines are seeking interactive Internet spaces rather than the passive format in which writers post their works and readers just respond with comments.
They are designed to draw more aggressive participation from readers and carry various genres such as petry in addition ot fiction.
Nabee offers novels written by celebrated writers Kim Seon-woo, Kim Do-un and Jung Su-hyun and runs separate sections in which the Internet users are able to participate in writing reviews of novels and short stories.
Ppul carries novels by Goo Hyo-seo, Oh Hyeon-jong and Lee Je-ha, short stories and foreign novels, and poems. The Webzine said that it will diversify genres to include science fiction, and draw more voluntary participation from amateur authors and online readers through the open literature space.
Also, Interpark, the online bookstore, has launched ``Book & Webzine’’ and ``Book Opinion’’ to give writers the chance to post their work, and to release publishing news. It also has a space for readers and writers to exchange their ideas and opinions about their works. Libro, the online book shop, offers interviews and columns by authors.
``The generation that is more familiar with the Internet than paper is growing. Also, easy access to the Internet contributes to drawing more readers to the bookstores. And as veteran writers are turning to cyberspace, interactive communication is becoming important for authors, publishers and bookstores,’’ an official at an Internet bookstore, said.
The emergence of literature Webzines is also hailed as a good outlet for many talented writers to make their debut in cyberspace.