Haksan Publishing

Haksan Publishing Co., Ltd., known in Korean as Haksan Munhwasa, is a South Korean publishing company established in Seoul in 1995. The company operates primarily in comics and related illustrated fiction, publishing both original Korean works and translated foreign titles. Its catalogue spans serialized comic magazines, collected comic volumes, manhwa, manga, and light novels. This combination gives Haksan a position across several stages of the comics publishing cycle, from magazine serialization and editorial development to book-format publication and licensing. The company’s periodical publishing includes Chance, a monthly boys’ comics magazine; Booking, a boys’ comics magazine issued every two weeks; and Party, a monthly girls’ comics magazine. These titles provide platforms for serialized works and support the company’s collected-volume publishing activities. Haksan also uses the Chance Comics imprint for collected comic editions, extending magazine and serial content into book releases. Haksan has also developed a substantial light-novel program. Its May Queen Novel line publishes Korean editions of titles associated with Japanese imprints such as Kadokawa Beans Bunko and Cobalt Bunko. Extreme Novel covers translated works connected with labels including Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko, Dengeki Bunko, Fujimi Mystery Bunko, Famitsu Bunko, and EX Novels. Carnival Novel is oriented toward original South Korean light novels. Together, these imprints demonstrate a business model combining domestic creation, international licensing, translation, and audience-specific editorial branding. The company is a subsidiary of Daewon Media, a major South Korean media and entertainment group. Haksan’s position is particularly significant within the South Korean print-comics market. In 2018, Haksan Publishing, Seoul Media Comics, and Daewon C.I. collectively represented 49 percent of that market, according to the referenced company account. The same year, KakaoPage acquired a 19.8 percent stake in Haksan Publishing, linking the established print publisher to one of South Korea’s major digital-content platforms. Haksan’s international activity has included licensing Korean works to overseas publishers. Rure, a manhwa by Da-Mi Seomoon that was serialized in Party, was licensed to Tokyopop in the United States and Saphira in France. This illustrates the company’s role not only as a domestic publisher but also as a rights holder and intermediary for international circulation of Korean comics. The available reference material does not provide a current revenue figure, employee count, leadership roster, official website address, or detailed account of the company’s present digital publishing operations.

Haksan Publishing was established in Seoul in 1995 under the Korean name Haksan Munhwasa, meaning approximately “Haksan Culture.” It developed as a specialist publisher focused on comics and illustrated fiction rather than as a general trade publishing house. Its catalogue has included both works produced in South Korea and translations of imported manga and light novels, allowing the company to serve readers across several demographic and genre segments. A central part of Haksan’s publishing model has been the use of serialized comic magazines. Chance was positioned as a monthly magazine for boys, while Booking served a similar audience on a bi-weekly schedule. Party was a monthly magazine for girls. Magazine serialization provided a continuing outlet for comics and created a route toward subsequent collected-volume publication. The company’s Chance Comics imprint has been used for collected editions, connecting periodical publishing with retail book distribution. Haksan also established a group of light-novel imprints with distinct editorial roles. May Queen Novel has been associated with Korean translations of titles from Kadokawa Beans Bunko and Cobalt Bunko. Extreme Novel has carried translated works connected with Japanese labels including Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko, Dengeki Bunko, Fujimi Mystery Bunko, Famitsu Bunko, and EX Novels. Carnival Novel has focused on original South Korean light novels. These lines reflect the company’s combination of foreign licensing and domestic publishing, while also segmenting its catalogue by readership and source material. The company operates within the Daewon Media group, which gives it an association with one of South Korea’s established media and entertainment businesses. Haksan’s market importance was especially visible in 2018, when Haksan Publishing, Seoul Media Comics, and Daewon C.I. were collectively reported to account for 49 percent of the country’s print comic book market. This figure describes the combined position of the three companies rather than Haksan’s individual share. In the same year, KakaoPage acquired 19.8 percent of Haksan Publishing. The investment connected Haksan’s established publishing infrastructure and intellectual-property catalogue with KakaoPage’s digital-content ecosystem. The available reference does not specify the full terms of the transaction or identify a change in operational control. Haksan has also participated in the overseas licensing of Korean comics. Rure, a manhwa by Da-Mi Seomoon serialized in Party, was licensed to Tokyopop for the United States and to Saphira for France. The example demonstrates how Haksan’s magazine and editorial operations could lead to foreign rights sales and international editions. Beyond this title, the supplied sources do not establish a complete list of international licenses, current digital services, annual publishing volume, or present management. The company is nevertheless characterized by its continuing focus on comics, manhwa, manga, and light novels, supported by magazine brands, collected-volume imprints, translation programs, and group-level media affiliations.

• 2018

  KakaoPage acquires a minority stake

  [1]Haksan Publishingen.wikipedia.org

  KakaoPage acquires 19.8 percent of Haksan Publishing, connecting the publisher with a major digital-content platform.

• 2018

  Combined publishers reach a major print-comics position

  [1]Haksan Publishingen.wikipedia.org

  Haksan Publishing, Seoul Media Comics, and Daewon C.I. are reported to represent 49 percent of South Korea’s print comic book market collectively.

• 1995

  Haksan Publishing is established

  [1]Haksan Publishingen.wikipedia.org

  Haksan Publishing is founded in Seoul as a South Korean publishing company focused on comics and related illustrated fiction.

A broad-based South Korean comics and light-novel publisher combining domestic editorial production with translated Japanese content, serial magazine publishing, book-format imprints, and international licensing.

• Boys' comics magazine

  Chance

  Chance is a monthly comics magazine aimed at boys. It provides a serialization platform for comics and supports Haksan’s broader programme of collected-volume publishing through the Chance Comics imprint.

• Boys' comics magazine

  Booking

  Booking is a bi-weekly comics magazine for boys. Its frequent publication schedule distinguishes it from Haksan’s monthly magazine titles and gives the company another format for serialized comic content.

• Girls' comics magazine

  Party

  Party is a monthly comics magazine for girls. It has served as a serialization venue for works including Rure by Da-Mi Seomoon, which later received licensing deals for publication in the United States and France.

• Collected comics imprint

  Chance Comics

  Chance Comics is Haksan’s collected-volume imprint associated with comic book editions. It extends material from serialization and other editorial channels into book-format releases.

• Translated light novels

  May Queen Novel

  May Queen Novel is a light-novel imprint associated with Korean translations of works from Japanese publishing lines including Kadokawa Beans Bunko and Cobalt Bunko.

• Translated light novels

  Extreme Novel

  Extreme Novel publishes translated light novels connected with Japanese labels such as Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko, Dengeki Bunko, Fujimi Mystery Bunko, Famitsu Bunko, and EX Novels.

• Original South Korean light novels

  Carnival Novel

  Carnival Novel is an imprint for original South Korean light novels, complementing Haksan’s translated-light-novel lines with domestically created fiction.

• 2018

  KakaoPage minority investmentM&A

  Background

  Haksan was an established print-comics publisher within the Daewon Media group, while KakaoPage operated as a major South Korean digital-content platform.

  Action taken

  KakaoPage acquired 19.8 percent of Haksan Publishing.

  Aftermath

  The transaction connected Haksan’s publishing and intellectual-property activities with KakaoPage’s digital-content business. The supplied source does not establish whether the investment changed Haksan’s management or operating strategy.

  Source

1. 1Haksan Publishingen.wikipedia.org