SIBF 2025 18-22 June, 2025 l COEX Halls A & B1
Archive
Feature on Genre ― Detective·Mystery·Thriller·Horror
Time to Get to Know about Detective Genre that Seemed Foreign Before
The special program of highlights detective/mystery/thriller/horror. The topics in 2017, 2018, and 2019 respectively were bookstore, magazine, and independent publishing. This year provides an opportunity to see small but growing interest in detective•mystery•thriller•horror novels in Korea. This demonstrates multiple layers of publication and books in the Korean culture by shedding a light on non-mainstream genres.
Understanding Detective Genre
How broad is “detective novel” as a genre? It is called “genre literature” in a broad manner, but it is broken down into detective, mystery, horror, and thriller as well. Some of Korean detective novels can be classified as fictions on crime. In the special program, speakers examine the definition and range of “detective” genre.
ㅣSpeakers: Kim Bong-seok (Popular Culture Critic), Kim Jong-il (Novelist), Yoon Young-cheon (Admin of howmystery.com)
ㅣModerator: Han Yi (President of Detective Novelist Association of Korea)
- Date/Time: October 16 (Fri) 10:00
- Location: Online (SIBF Official Website)
Dialogue with Korean Detective Novel Translators
Translation is indispensable for the detective novels in Korea. The role of translator is vital for Korean readers to be able to read detective novels. With the translators of famous detective novels, we can take a look at translation experience and discuss how to translate detective novels, which has to be differentiated.
ㅣSpeakers: Kim Eun-mo (Translator Specialized in Japanese Mysteries), Sung Gui-soo (Syllables Arranger & Translator), Hong Han-byeol (Translator)
ㅣModerator: Jeong Eun-ji (Writer, Translator)
- Date/Time: October 18 (Sun) 19:00
- Location: Online (SIBF Official Website)
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Korean Domestic Thriller
As domestic thriller works such as Gone Girl and Before I go to sleep are gaining popularity, more Korean domestic thriller works are introduced to readers. Speakers discuss how the perception of family and individual roles at home would affect domestic thriller novels.
ㅣSpeakers: Kim Jin-young (Writer), Seo Mi-ae (Writer)
ㅣModerator: Kim Yong-eon (Cheif-in-editor of Mysteria Magazine)
- Date/Time: October 19 (Mon) 17:00–18:00
- Location: Offline (Community House MASIL), Online (SIBF Official Website)
Horror and Detective Novels
“Detective” genre is characterized with rationality and reasoning, and elements such as “horror,” “fantasy” are considered the opposite. Are they actually compatible? The well-known detective novelists discuss how they include elements of fantasy in the works and how to distinguish similar but different genres such as horror, thriller, and detective.
ㅣSpeakers: Jeon Kun-woo (Novelist), Chan Ho-kei (Writer of Detective Novels in Hong Kong)
ㅣModerator: Yoon Young-cheon (Admn of Howmystery.com)
The Present and Future of Detective Novels
Speakers discuss the current process of writing a detective novel in Korea and the way readers accept it as well as how crime novels of each country reflect specific society and history.
ㅣSpeakers: Park Hyeon-ju (Translator), Song Si-woo (Novelist)
ㅣModerator: Lee Da-hye (Cine21 Reporter, Writer)
- Date/Time: October 20 (Tue) 17:00–18:00
- Location: Offline (Community House MASIL), Online (SIBF Official Website)
Writing a Novel with Real Events as a Material
Experts share actual stories about crimes, focusing on how to track down criminals and psychology of victims. Also, we get to learn what writers consider when translating this information into literature.
ㅣSpeakers: Doh Jin-ki (Writer), Yu Seong-ho (Prof. at Medical School of SNU)
ㅣModerator: Lee Da-hye (Cine21 Reporter, Writer)
- Date/Time: October 22 (Tue) 17:00–18:00
- Moderator: Offline (Community House MASIL Live Hall), Online (SIBF Official Website)
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