Ever wonder how difficult it is to start your own magazine or newspaper in Korea? Well, Joongang Daily interviewed two expat magazine owners, Stephen Revere (10 Magazine) and Craig White (Daegu Pockets) about the difficulties they faced in getting their publications up and running.
According to current Korean media law, foreigners cannot become chief executive officers or executive editors. The media ownership law also states that foreigners cannot own a majority share of any media outlet in Korea.
So to establish his English-language magazine called “10,” Revere had to look well outside the expatriate community whose audience he sought.
“Because I wasn’t a citizen, I had to find Koreans who were willing to represent the magazine,” says Revere. “Without my Korean friends’ help, 10 Magazine couldn’t have come alive.” Because of that, today he’s listed as the “managing editor,” despite being the founder.
Of course this can lead to problems. We all remember Shelton Bumgarner and the problems he had with ROKON Magazine. I won’t go into the details but he claims he lost it because of his Korean partner’s dealings. But he wasn’t the only one to have lost a publication to a Korean partner.
A very interesting take on Westerners and their publications in Korea is by Scott Burgeson. He has published several books and zines in Korea and this is what he had to say.
{ 46 comments… read them below or add one }
Steve Revere is politely omitting the story of 10 magazine’s predecessor, Eloquence, which was indeed stolen from him by his former Korean partner.
But I suppose you were hinting at that.
Who’s Shelton Bumgarner?
“Shelton Bumgarner” would be me, that’s who.
My “Korean partner,” didn’t take ROKon from me, it just stopped for a few months while my co-founder, Annie Shapiro organized a new version without me. I take responsiblity for the “failure” of the originial version of “version” of ROKon. I *was* the originial version of the magazine. I did everything and got no credit because I was inexperienced in managing people and the ways of the expat world.
Julian Kang’s version of the magazine was significantly better than mine in almost every way. (He had no part in my version.) Shapiro did a good job in continuing the idea of the magazine — it was always an idea, not an organization — without me. (To say that broke my heart when it happened would be a huge understatement.) I was completely clueless about the ways of publishing in the ROK and should have read up on it via Scott Bug. But what did I know?
Publishing a magazine for oegugins in Korea is something best done by people who have no idea what they’re doing — otherwise they won’t do it. Or put another way, either put out a crappy little zine, or think it out and publish something really nice that people appriciate. (I’d say give yourself six to three months of prep work including finding a trust worthy Korean partner.) Don’t go inbetween.
The biggest problem for publishing for oegugins is the difference between the “market” and the “audience.” The audience is big enough, but the market is teeny-tiny and tough to crack. That’s why the failure of KScene opened an opportunity that had I known about in advance I could have taken better advantage of.
I’m just glad all of that is over, at last.
Well, I remember ROKon in its original form. It reminded me of college radio magazines from the 80s back home. Handmade, cheap paper, obscure references. It was good to see, but I never knew how anyone could hope to make any money from it.
Media law here is just another item to add to a long list of why Korea will never really be taken seriously.
Broad, blanket statements here is just another item to add to a long list of why expat bitchers will never really be taken seriously.
I’d also like to challenge the grousers to describe for us the circumstances by which Rupert Murdoch found it necessary or desirable to renounce his Australian citizenship for United States citizenship. Tell us, why did he do that?
Point taaken, Brendon. The fact remains that Korea is infinitely more restrictive, extending the scope of exclusion of foreign participation in media beyond (the arguably justifiable) broadcast to print media, even (if recollection serves) self-publication and distribution of one’s own original work.
Sperwer,
I hope you live another 30 years to see all that you are negative about Korea change. However, even if you did live that long and Korean society, government regulations and business practices all changed for the better, I somehow believe you’ll still find shit you don’t like and you’ll never change your attitude.
You’ll take it to your grave no matter how much Korea adapts, moderizes and Westernizes. It’s okay though. You’re demographic is moving on and not replicating.
Forgive me. Heaven forbid that I am the first person to write a knee-jerk reactionary statement on the interwebs. Perhaps I should have just said media law here is f*cked.
And renouncing Aussie citizenship for US is just good policy.
Wow, a little factual observation wins me a forked tongue death wish for me and my genes.
I do plan to be around for 30 (and more), WangKon; and too bad for you and yours, we are replicating, both biologically and ideologically.
And, for the record, I’m not oblivious to the fact that Korea is changing; I just question whether the changes have the significance that most try to attribute to them. I think that despite all the obfuscatory talk about Korea’s “modernizing”, the specific manner of its modernization is so peculiar as to make talk about its modernization misleading, because it focuses on the superficial ways in which Korean modernization apes and resembles the real deal and not on the very specific attributes of Korean modernization, that involve the persistence of certain “fundamental” elements of Korean culture that so distinguish it from the norm, that the phenomenon really warrants a sui generis description and terminology. In other words, just as Jim Palais thought that Korean history was best understood on its own unique terms (a position with which I agree), I think that contemporary Korea needs to be understood to be relatively unique.
That I find most elements of its uniqueness, and the gross hypocrisy with which Korea attempts to play them down while playing up its ostensible globalization, objectionable is another matter entirely.
I was one of the people who helped start up the now-defunct Ulsan Pear; I recall lots of ridiculous legal snafus and red tape. I’m surprised the article didn’t mention the absurd restrictions on E-2 visa holders. We are legally allowed to have a (highly restricted) job, a bank account and a residence: anything else is “bonus.” Everything from “Kickin’ It In Gumcheon” to having a blog to expat rock bands is technically illegal.
The retarded thing is: so many Koreans don’t want it this way. I’ve met tons of Koreans who would love to support expat news rags, art and photo exhibitions, concerts, et al, but apparently, that wouldn’t be “protect[ing] Koreans’ interests,” according to the Ministry of Culture official quoted in the magazine.
It blows my mind to see Koreans pouring time and money into English periodicals, news shows, “villages,” etc. meant for Korean consumption. Expats would do half the work for them if they would just let us.
@4 Hey man you tried, that is a lot more than what most other people can say.
@ Anybody, I have a few questions for anybody who might know anything. According to the “Scott Bug,” critique of the ROKon magazine, there are over 1 million non Korean citizens living in Korea. Mr. Bug correctly states that most of those people are not English teachers, but it would also be fair to say that most of those people are not English speakers.
So I guess my question is, how could anybody estimate a potential audience for an English language publication? Also what would be broad enough subject material to attract 1. English speaking people, these could be English teachers, soldiers, diplomats, piecework contractors for chaebols, tourists, investors, non native English speaking business people, students, English speaking factory workers…, Koreans from other countries visiting Korea, or Koreans who can speak English well. It’s really difficult to write something that would satisfy all of those readers. So perhaps it would indeed be a good idea (As Bug points out) to try to make special interest zines.
On the other hand it’s incredibly difficult for magazines to get a footing with the internet around. So yeah, hat’s of to anyone who tries.
Who would’ve thought a post that invokes both Scott Bug and Shelton would be controversial enough to get WangKon to fire up.
The reluctance of readers to pay for content when they can get what they want for free is a far bigger obstacle than any legal restrictions on foreign ownership of domestic media.
Sperwer and WangKon936 may appear to be at odds here, but as far as I’m concerned, they’re on the same side. They both seem to think that opening up a nation’s institutions of memetic transmission to globalizts and foreign elements is a good thing.
After viewing carefully photographic evidence at Sperwer’s blog, I’d say his demographic shouldn’t have any trouble replicating.
@16. That’s not my position. As for WangKon, imo, he’s deeply confused by his self-imposed inability to escape the liminality of his status as a hyphenated American.
I recall all these ‘zines were freebies.
I’d be interested to hear from Shelton et al. of their experiences attracting advertising and (unpaid?) content contributors.
Sperwer,
As time marches on it appears that people are getting more open minded and international. It also appears that people are getting more tolerant of alternative ways of doing things. China is becoming a developed country as well as India. Oh, and we have a black President. The proportion of the population of North America that’s non-White Hispanic is the largest it’s ever been.
I don’t know the last time you’ve been to America, but I’m the future. Say “hi” to the future. Hello.
Sometimes I think your mind is somewhere in between the Eisenhower and Reagan administrations (conveniently skipping the Kennedy and Johnson administrations). Also, I’d hazard to guess that you’ve been in Korea for 20 plus years, right? Have not things improved since the first year you’ve been in Korea? Listening to you it would seem things haven’t.
IMO, you’re deeply confused by your self-imposed inability to escape the reality that is today’s globalized world. A world where nations do things differently than America but are still incredibly successful. The belief that America has nothing to learn from others is one that will change because it has to. If it doesn’t… it will be left behind. Personally, as an American, I don’t want to see that.
Yet, their citizens still flock to the U.S. to become our “future”
Well, let’s see —- two weeks ago. My homeland homes are in New York City, upstate rural New York and suburban south Jersey.
In fact, I was a Kennedy democrat; then I saw the world and wised up.
15; as I said before: plus ca change, plus c’est la meme chose
That’s about as incoherent as it gets; but I’ve no interest in escaping globalization, just ensuring that it doesn’t degenerate in what some people see as the coming anarchy.
Can’t speak for how long, exactly, Sperwer’s been here but this is my 20th year in Korea. Things have improved quite a lot in that time. It was in fact the sense of “progress every day” (plus the sex) which made the idea of making a career in Korea attractive.
@WangKon936
You sound foolish and lack any sense of perspective. Globalization is not inexorable historical process. It’s an artificial process originally made possible and promoted by the postwar world order established by the US, and now advanced by a transnational class that aspires to more and more wealth and global control and power. And the rosy picture of the US and its future that you give is fantasy. The changing demographics is a stress not strength. It’s possible that the US could become like Brazil of North America or break apart.
Just to back up Scott, as if anyone has any doubts, I was brought on board by that final editor at K-Scene. It was my first print gig before my wonderful two years at Mr. Koehler’s mag and then Mr. Revere’s. Scott’s description of K-Scene was accurate. It did pay but very little–as in a two-page spread would get W50,o0o. And even for that it was pulling fingernails to get paid by them. I still keep in touch with that editor, and he’s started a fairly successful community web site in Nanjing. http://www.hellonanjing.net/chinese
If the coming anarchy does come to pass, its ultimate cause will be globalization. The truly horrific scenarios of the coming anarchy especially, the super viruses and bacteria, suitcase nukes, the massive dieoffs, etc, will have been ultimately caused by globalization.
And thanks God for that
I wouldn’t brag about it , it’s not an indicator of health or success of the country per se. Having a high rate of immigration may simply be caused by the proximity of masses of desperate neighbours, lack of organisation in controlling the inflows etc.
In the last 10 years the 2 Euro countries with the highest rate of immigration were Spain and Italy. Spain is now a bankrupted nation facing economic collapse, while Italy is well just Italy.
Also immigrants can be wrong, at the turn of the century millions of people from rich countries like Germany, Britain and the Netherlands moved to South America in search of fortune, i wouldn’t say it was a wise choice.
Back to the topic: sorry if you invest any money in a print magazine, or any other project centered around writing, well i have some shares in a hot IPO of a company selling ice in the North Pole for you.
Everybody can write, everybody more or less now goes to school, for fuck sake even i can occasionally stitch together semi-coeherent sentences in a foreign language. Supply is simply enormous: i think pretty much everybody at some point in their life harboured the fantasy of becoming a writer.
Getting paid to write is as likely as getting paid to exist, a super tiny fraction of the world population manage to do that, they’re called supermodels
@13 . Curious about the potential audience for an English-language publication in Korea? Based on our research at 10 Magazine, there are close to 130,000 English speakers in Korea at any given time. This of course includes exchange students, English teachers, US soldiers, businessmen, tourists, diplomats, etc. Seeing as there are at least four major English magazines currently in operation (10 Magazine, Groove, Eloquence, and Seoul) as well as a couple of local publications (Daegu Pockets and Busan Haps), I’d say a market of this size is big enough to support quite a bit of creative output. Of course, time will tell which of these magazines will survive.
Thanks for the clarification Shelton –
RDN
> gangpehmoderniste #28
> Everybody can write
Few of them can write well. And most of the new generation is poisoned by multi-tasking distractions and texting-speak — no upcoming competition.
> Getting paid to write is as likely as getting paid to exist,
> a super tiny fraction of the world population manage to do that,
Oh ah dunno, quite a few of us ordinary-skilled types are still doing pretty well with it — i turn down half of the lucrative offers i get, just for lack of time/energy. There’s still a fair demand for high-quality content…
Yes. they were. Writers and publishers often provide free content, hoping to earn enough revenues either through advertising or building up a large and loyal enough readership to start subscriptions. I don’t know what the expectations were with these particular publications, but the likelihood of any of them becoming profitable is low.
Glad you asked. I was thinking if this was a post-worthy item. It says that number of Korean immigration abroad is the lowest since 1963 (since they started recording) and is only 1/10 of year 2000. On the other hand an increase in people coming home, especially the oldies, but increasingly, younger population who were educated abroad as well.
sanshieon : how old are you ? How long have you been in the profession ?
Let me understand vichingo why American restrictions on foreign ownership of tv outlets are justifed, why the Korean equivalents for print products are some sign of troglodytism (if there’s such a word) ?
What would be the risk ? The Chinks buying up the whole cable industry and forcing wuxia shit down American throats ?
I mean don’t tell me any of you guys still believe, in free markets, capitalism, fair and transparent regulations and all the other brouhaha routinely spewed out by the Economist or the WSJ ?
> sanshieon :
Who dat?
> how old are you ? How long have you been in the profession ?
“the profession” —- prostitution? teaching prostitution? writing prostitution?
if the latter — i think the first time i was paid for something i wrote was early 88, my Seoul Olympics Hotel English text (jeshin hotel yeongeo) — stayed in-print for 12 years — and that was already a decade after i ran away from the U of Mich in my junior year to join the remnant of a SanFran hippie-cult, at the early peak of the Disco Era, yessiree… Do the math… Old times, good times.
Well Sanshinseon sorry for misspleiing your name to begiwn with (i should pay more attention), to a certain degree i think your resume kinda validates my point.
You describe yourself as a good but overall average writer, would say that having a top-notch, albeit a bit irregular, academic background and 22 years of Asian experience would make you, comparing to the rest of the world (where a significant slice of the population is made of writers wannabe), part of the very upper ladder of your profession.
I mean, i’m sure an average linebacker of the NFL feels well pretty average, still he’s a monster comparing to most.
Supermodel maybe you’re not but you’re still a high class whore
In this bread&circus society you’re saying the expats community is really striving to bring the circus to Korean towns ?
gangpeh,
Another export/import idea… Korean pears:
http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=59775
gangpehmoderniste in 37: That last sentence is the nicest thing anybody ever said about me on this blog! My thanks…
“It’s an artificial process originally made possible and promoted by the postwar world order established by the US, and now advanced by a transnational class that aspires to more and more wealth and global control and power.”
Shame globalisation started long before…..the US was established by globalisation
Arghaeri,
Well, technically the U.S. was started via the Age of Mercantilism, which is just the 17th and 18th century version of globalization. Back then it was the brown ppl that was taking it up the ass…
Eggsackerly…. although I don’t get the “technically” since coining a term for it later doesn’t make it “technically” so.
Ha! Touché.
ROTFLMAO. Did you get into the 99 percentile on the Social Studies AP exam with that howler, Wangkon?
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