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Changbi Publishers, Inc., which represents critical writers and intellectuals in South Korea, began operations in 1966 with the founding of The Quarterly Changbi (Creation and Criticism). The company has published more than 1,500 titles, including works of poetry, fiction, history, the humanities and social sciences, and children's books, both by Korean authors and foreign writers in translation.
In the 1970s and 80s, Changbi frequently offended the military regimes because of its oppositional stance, and faced many difficulties including bans on certain important books and the closure of the journal from 1980 to early 1988. Furthermore, for nearly one year, the publishing house itself was shut down. Authors, publishers, and editors were arrested or brought to trial several times, some suffering conviction and even imprisonment.
While Changbi was being harassed by the authorities, the Korean intellectual community continued to look to it as a central cultural organ of the movements for democracy and national reunification. Theories about the system of Korea's division and about 'national literature' have been expounded by many authors through the journal, especially by the editor Paik Nak-chung. Debates on this and other important topics have had a great influence on intellectuals and activists in South Korea.
Since the 1990s, Changbi has been making great efforts not only to cope with the division of the Korean peninsula, but also to search for alternative ideas in the context of the world capitalist system. Lately, Changbi has enlarged its readership by publishing a variety of quality, critically acclaimed steady-sellers. In commemoration of the 30th anniversary of The Quarterly Changbi in 1996, the company hosted a highly publicized and well-attended party for writers, readers and eminent guests in February, and held an international conference in April entitled "Toward a New Global Civilization". In 1998, in conjunction with the publication of serial No. 100 of The Quarterly Changbi, the company held a conference entitled "Our Tasks in the IMF Era and the Search for New Civilization at the End of the Century", which was well received by both participants and the press.
In the 21st century, Changbi is expanding its dual role as a producer of outstanding books that aim to cultivate readers and as a knowledge base that will contribute to the transformation of human civilization. With our wide range of carefully selected publications of children's books that foster the dreams and sensibilities of youngsters who represent the future of this country to inspiring literary works and works by distinguished scholars at home and abroad that endeavor to create a new civilization, we at Changbi will continue to reciprocate our readers' ongoing devotion and support.
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| 1965 |
The Quarterly Changbi registered on December 10. |
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| 1966 |
Published the first issue of The Quarterly Changbi (winter issue). The inaugural issue of The Quarterly Changbi (winter issue) printed by Munu Chulpansa (122 Gongpyeong-don, Jongro-gu, Seoul). Publisher: O Yeong-geun; editor: Paik Nak-chung. Paik's "A New Stance on Creation and Criticism" published as the opening article. Korean translation of Arnold Hauser's "The Film Age" (final chapter of the Social History of Art) published in the autumn issue. |
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| 1967 |
The serialization of Bang Yeong-ung's novel A Record of Bunnye begun in the summer issue. Starting with the winter issue, the printing house switched to Ilchokak (address: 229-1 Cheongjin-dong, Jongro-gu, Seoul). Publisher: Han Man-nyeon; editor: Paik Nak-chung. |
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| 1968 |
Poems published for the first time in the quarterly (spring issue). |
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| 1969 |
Starting with the fall-winter issue, Changjak-kwa-Bipyongsa established as a printing house independent of Ilchokak (publisher: Sin Dong-mun; editor: Yom Mu-ung; address: 9 Gongpyeong-dong, Jongro-gu, Seoul). |
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| 1974 |
Established Changjak-kwa-Bipyongsa. In November, the Literary Council for Liberty was founded. Editor Paik Nak-chung signed his name to the "National Declaration for the Restoration of Democracy", and refused to present a letter of resignation to Seoul National University. In December, he was reprimanded and discharged by the Ministry of Education. |
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| 1975 |
In accordance with Emergency Measure No. 9, the spring issue of The Quarterly Changbi was withdrawn from the bookstands. In June, Paik was arrested by the Korean CIA (KCIA) for publishing The Complete Works of Shin Tong-yop and the books were banned. In July and August, Homeland, a collection of poems by Cho Tae-il, and the summer issue of The Quarterly Changbi were banned in succession. |
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| 1976 |
In February, editor Yom Mu-ung was dismissed from Duksong Women's University. Professor Kang Man-gil first proposed the concept of the "age of national division" in his article entitled "A Reflection on 'Nationalist Historiography'", which appeared in the spring issue of The Quarterly Changbi. |
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| 1980 |
The entire text of the proceedings of the symposium "Close Inspection for the 1980's" was deleted through censorship exercised by the Martial Law Command. In March, Paik Nak-chung, Kim Yoon-su, and Yom Mu-ung returned to their former positions as university professors. In April, Yang Sung-u's A Drumming Cripple was banned. An enlarged edition of The Complete Works of Shin Tong-yop was published but again banned through censorship by the Martial Law Command. At the end of July, Changbi was forced to stop publication in accordance with the decision of the National Security Committee. |
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| 1981 |
In order to compensate, at least partly, for the absence of the quarterly, Our Yearning, a collection of new poems by thirteen writers, was published. |
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| 1982 |
With a similar intention, a new collection of literary critiques entitled The Current Stage of Korean Literature(vol. 1) was published, followed by vols. 2-4 in 1983, 1984, and 1985, respectively. "With Parching Thirst and Other Poems", a collection of Kim Ji-ha's poems, was published but banned and confiscated. The Office of National Tax Administration imposed a ten million won penalty on Changbi. South(vol. 1), Kim Ji-ha's long poem, was published but banned and all copies were sealed off. |
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| 1984 |
A new collection of novels was published. In 1985 and 1987, consecutive volumes were published. |
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| 1985 |
The Quarterly Changbi(no. 57) was published as a non-periodical (irregular publication). In December, however, Changbi's registration was cancelled on the charges of "illegal" publication of the periodical. A pan-intellectual and nationwide signature campaign was held in protest against the cancellation of Changbi's registration. Intellectuals and literary and human rights groups overseas also participated in the campaign. |
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| 1986 |
In June, at the World PEN Club Conference held in Hamburg, Germany, a resolution in solidarity with the Changbi circumstances was adopted. In August, the publishing house was newly registered as Changjak-sa. |
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| 1987 |
In July, Changbi 1987, a non-periodical (irregular publication), was published. |
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| 1988 |
In February, The Quarterly Changbi was registered again and Changbi Publishers regained its title, officially. The first issue of the revived quarterly (spring issue) was published. |
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| 1989 |
"People Were Living There", an essay by Hwang Sok-yong on his visit to North Korea, appeared in the winter issue of The Quarterly Changbi, for which Lee Si-young, the co-editor, was arrested and indicted. |
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| 1990 |
Tong'i Pogam[Handbook of Eastern Medicine], a novel concerning a traditional Korean pharmacopoeia of the same name, was published in three volumes. Approximately 3,600,000 copies have been sold up to now. |
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| 1993 |
Selected Modern Korean Poems (in three volumes) and My Exploration of Cultural Heritage (written by Yu Hong-june) were published. In the latter work, the value and beauty of Korean cultural heritage are carefully explained in a fluent style. The book has greatly attracted readers and consecutive series have been published in three volumes. 1,500,000 copies have been sold. |
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| 1994 |
In May, the publishing house became a corporate body and made a fresh start as Changbi Publishers, Inc. At 30, The Party Is Over, a collection of poems by Choi Young-mi, was published. With provocative language and a modern sensibility, the author boldly and candidly recounts the lives of her generation that participated in the flood of ideologies in the 1980s. This collection was immensely popular and sold more than 1,000,000 copies, a rare phenomenon in the field of poetry. |
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| 1996 |
The 30th anniversary commemoration issue of The Quarterly Changbi (spring issue) was published. In commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the foundation of The Quarterly Changbi, Changbi Publishers, Inc. held an international conference in April entitled "Toward a New Global Civilization", which was attended by Perry Anderson, Bruce Cumings, Wada Haruki, Norma Field, Boris Kagarlitsky, Paik Nak-chung, Choi Won-sik, and others. |
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| 1998 |
In commemoration of the publication of the 100th volume of the quarterly, Changbi held an academic conference in March entitled "Our Task in the Age of the IMF and Cultural Shifts at the End of the Century". The 100th volume (summer issue) was published. |
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| 2000 |
In commemoration of the publication of the 200th volume of the Changbi Selected Poems Series, Changbi Publishers, Inc. held a literary symposium in October entitled "Tendencies in the 21st Century: the Digital World and the Poetic", which was attended by Ko Un, Hwang Sok-yong, Kim Beong-ik, Chung Nam-young, Ra Hui-deok, Paik Nak-chung, and others. |
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| 2001 |
The 35th anniversary commemorative issue of The Quarterly Changbi (spring issue) was published. |
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| 2003 |
The Quarterly Changbi Children's Literature Series was founded (summer 2003 issue).
Changbi completed the construction of and relocation to a new company building in Paju Book City, Gyeonggi Province (in June). The relocation ceremony was held in September, and a new CI was announced. The company name was changed to Changbi, Inc. |
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| 2004 |
Five Changbi books were selected among the "100 Books of Korea" to be translated and exhibited at the 2005 Frankfurt International Book Fair in October: A Revised History of Contemporary Korea (by Kang Man-gil), Dictatorship in the Name of Development and the Park Chung Hee Era (by Lee Byeong-cheon, et al.), The Shaking Division System (by Paik Nak-chung), An Account of a Journey to the DMZ (by Lee Si-woo), and Peasants' Dance (by Shin Kyung-rim).
Changbi was selected as the publisher with the greatest contribution to Korean society since the liberation from Japan in 1945 (the daily, Segye Times).
North Korean writer Hong Seok-jung was selected as the winner of the 19th Manhae Prize for Literature, which is organized by Changbi, for his novel Hwang Jini, and the award ceremony was held at Mt. Geumgang (Diamond Mountains) in North Korea. This was the first instance of a North Korean writer being awarded a literary prize established since the national division in South Korea.
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| 2005 |
Professor Paik Nak-chung, the editor of The Quarterly Changbi, was selected as
the South Korean Chair of All-Korean Committee for
Implementation of 6/15 Joint Declaration. The festivities were successfully held in June and August.
Changbi and the Civil/Citizens' Action Network organized a joint symposium entitled "To Overcome the 1987 System: A Critical Reflection on the Constitution and Social Structure".
Changbi participated in the Frankfurt International Book Fair, which was held in October, with Korea as the guest of honor (literature, children's books, and works selected from among the "100 Books of Korea" were exhibited).
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| 2006 |
The 40th anniversary commemoration issue of The Quarterly Changbi (spring issue) was published.
April Japanese webzine of The Quarterly Changbi founded (http://www.changbi.com/jp/).
May Publication of Changbi Weekly Commentary, a weekly online medium, begun (http://weekly.changbi.com). Professor Lee Il-young's "The US-Korea FTA: Is It the Roh Moo-hyun Administration's Suicidal Act?" and poet and novelist Lee Jang-wook's piece published in the inaugural issue.
June "East Asia as Solidarity and the Role of Magazines: International Symposium of the Editors of Progressive Journals in East Asia," commemorating the 40th anniversary of the foundation of The Quarterly Changbi, to be held at the Korea Press Foundation (KPF) and Yonsei University.
July Final installment of 20th-Century Korean Fiction, edited by Choi Won-sik, Lim Kyu-chan, Jin Jeong-seok, and Baik Ji-yon (20 vols.), to be published.
Over 1,500 titles including single-volume works and periodicals published to date.
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