“This blood-stained handkerchief and young Euncheol’s hard-earned money… everyone should know that these are, in fact, priceless treasures.” (Ssangmujigae Tteuneun Eondeok [A Hill with Double Rainbows]. Malgeunchang, 2010)

Kim Naesung was the first Korean author to specialize in detective fiction, and he created the character “Yoo Bul-lan,” a Joseon-era detective.

1. Life

Kim Naesung was born in South Pyongan Province (present-day North Korea) in 1909 and died in 1957. In 1931, he went to Japan to study, but while he was studying German law, he encountered Japanese detective fiction and began corresponding with Edogawa Ranpo, the master of the genre. He made his literary debut in 1935 in the Japanese detective fiction magazine Profile, where his short stories “Tawonhyeongui Geoul” (“An Oval Mirror”) and “Tamjeongsoseolgaui Sarin” (“The Murder of a Detective Fiction Novelist”) were accepted for publication. He returned to Joseon (present-day Korea) in 1936 and established himself as a detective fiction writer, publishing Gasangbeomin (A Hypothetical Culprit), an adaptation of “Tamjeongsoseolgaui Sarin” (“The Murder of a Detective Fiction Novelist”). In 1937, he made a name for himself with the serialization of the boy detective stories Baekgamyeon (White Mask) and Hwanggeum Gul (The Cave of Gold), featuring Yoo Bul-lan for the first time. In 1939, he serialized the novel Ma-in (Demon) in Chosun Ilbo, which became a huge hit. It was adapted into a film in 1946 following Korea’s liberation, and its book form remained a strong seller after the Korean War.

After Korea’s liberation, Kim became even more well-known with his script for Korea’s first-ever children’s radio drama, Ttolttoriui Moheom (The Adventures of Ttolttol). He also wrote Jinjutap (A Pearl Tower), a Korean adaptation of The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas set during the colonial period of Joseon, which was initially released as a radio drama and was a huge success. While he was serializing Cheongchungeukjang (Youth Theater) in Hankook Ilbo, which he had begun in 1949, the Korean War broke out. In 1951, he took refuge in Busan, where he completed the work. He then serialized Insaenghwabo (Life in Pictures), completing it in 1953 and began serializing Sillagwonui Byeol (The Star of Lost Paradise) in 1956 but died the following year. Most of Kim’s novels were successfully adapted into radio dramas, television series, and films. In recognition of his achievements, Kyunghyang Shinmun established the Naesung Literary Award in 1957 and awarded it to writers.

2. Writing

Kim is known as the first Korean author of detective fiction, and his narratives unfold with twist after twist. Sarin Yesulga (Artist of Murder) was published in Joseon (present-day Korea) after he adapted his debut work, Tawonhyeongui Geoul (An Oval Mirror), originally written in Japanese. Its detective narrative is inspired by scenes from his daily life, featuring characters such as a novelist and their student, as well as a detective fiction magazine editor. Likewise, Yoo Bul-lan, the protagonist of Baekgamyeon (White Mask), Hwanggeum Gul (The Cave of Gold), and Ma-in (Demon), is distinctive in being both a detective and a detective novelist. Although Ma-in (Demon), one of Kim’s major works featuring Yoo Bul-lan, is set in the Joseon period, it incorporates exotic elements unfamiliar to Joseon society, such as a duchess and a masquerade. Its sensational narrative, which follows a series of murders among the upper class and characters entangled in conflicts of money, status, and love, gained immense popularity. In 1943, Kim featured Yoo Bul-lan once more in his novel Taepung (Typhoon), but its narrative supported the Japanese imperial war effort. After this, he never wrote another detective fiction work featuring Yoo Bul-lan.

Although Kim is known as Korea’s first detective novelist, he also wrote popular fiction in the 1950s. As the best-selling author of the time, he sold 10,000 copies of Cheongchungeukjang (Youth Theater) even during the Korean War, while its complete five-volume set sold 15,000. The protagonists of Cheongchungeukjang (Youth Theater) are Joseon women who lived under Japanese colonial rule. They navigate the turbulent period of war and liberation, facing abandonment or being chosen by men and, at times, making choices of their own. After Korea’s liberation, Kim went on to publish many children’s adventure books. He wrote the script for the radio drama Ttolttoriui Moheom (The Adventures of Ttolttol) and published the children’s book Dokkaebigamtu (Goblin’s Hat). He also produced young adult novels, including Geomeun Byeol (The Black Star) and Ssangmujigae Tteuneun Eondeok (A Hill with Double Rainbows).

Reference

Fiction

(Jangpyeonsoseol) Ma-in (Demon: A Novel). Aeheomyeongusa, 1955

Kkumkkuneun Bada: Gimnaeseong Sonyeonsoseol Seonjip Sang (Dreaming Sea: Selected Children’s Books by Kim Naesung, vol. 1). Yukyeongsa, 1955

(Jangpyeonsoseol) Sasangui Jangmi (The Rose of Thought: A Novel). Shin Taeyang, 1955

(Jangpyeonsoseol) Cheongchungeukjang (Young Theater: A Novel). Moonsungdang, 1957

Sillagwonui Byeol (The Star of Lost Paradise). Jeongeumsa, 1957

Baekjoui Gok (Swan Song). Yeowonsa, 1957

Jinjutap (A Pearl Tower). Samjungdang, 1957

Sillagwonui Byeol Oe (The Star of Lost Paradise and Other Works). Minjungseogwan, 1959

Ma-in (Demon). Dongguk Munhwasa, 1962

Sasangui Jangmi (The Rose of Thought). Kyungmoon Publishing, 1964

Goegiui Hwacheop (Album of the Grotesque). Jinmun Publishing, 1964

Main Sang-Ha (Demon, vols. 1-2). Samjungdang, 1968

(Tamjeongsoseol) Geomeunbyeol (The Black Star: A Detective Novel). Jungangseojeok, 1970

Gimnaeseongdaepyomunhakseonjip 1-6 (Selected Works of Kim Naesung, vols. 1-6). Dongchang Publishing, 1970

Kkum Kkuneun Bada (Dreaming Sea). Hanjin Publishing, 1978

Dokkaebi Gamtu (Goblin’s Hat). Hanjin Publishing, 1978

Ssangmujigae Tteuneun Eondeok (A Hill with Double Rainbows). Kumsung Publishing, 1984

Bimirui Mun: Gimnaeseong Churisoseol (The Secret Door: Kim Naesung’s Detective Fiction). Myeongjisa, 1994

Ssangmujigae Tteuneun Eondeok (A Hill with Double Rainbows). Malgeunsori, 2002

Cheongchungeukjang (Youth Theater). Jeongsan Media, 2008

Ma-in: Urinara Choechoui Jangpyeon Churisoseol (Demon: Korea’s First Detective Novel). Jeongsan Media, 2009

Jinjutap: Gimnaeseong Tamjeong Beonan Soseol (A Pearl Tower: Adapted Detective Fiction by Kim Naesung). Hyundae Munhak Publishing Co., Ltd., 2009

Ma-in: Gimnaeseong Jangpyeon Churisoseol (Demon: A Detective Novel by Kim Naesung). Fantastique, 2009

Baeksado: Gimnaeseong Danpyeonjip (A Painting of a White Snake: Kim Naesung’s Short Stories). Paper House, 2010

Ssangmujigae Tteuneun Eondeok (A Hill with Double Rainbows). Malgeunchang, 2010

Ma-in (Demon). Zmanz, 2013

(Sapwabon) Cheongchungeukjang (Youth Theater: Illustrated Edition). Jeongsan Media, 2013

金來成探偵小說選 (Selected Detective Fiction of Kim Naesung). Ronsosha, 2014

魔人 (Demon). Ronsosha, 2014

Hanguk Seoseupenseu Geoljakseon (Selected Masterpieces of Korean Suspense Fiction). Goryeowon Media, 1993 (multiple authors)

Hangukchurimunhak Geoljakseon (Selected Masterpieces of Korean Detective Fiction). Taedong, 2002 (multiple authors)