Euodia; L&B Books: 326 pp., 9,000 won
"Gwanghae's Lover," a web-fiction love story between a Joseon Era (1392-1910) king and a time-traveling high school girl, has been published in book form.
Written by budding fantasy author Euodia, the series has garnered four million hits since January when it debuted on search portal Naver (www.naver.com).
Gwanghae, the 15th king of the kingdom, is a controversial figure, with some describing him as a tyrant while others regard him as wise. He attempted many reform policies including neutral diplomacy at a time when China's Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and Ch'ing Dynasty (1636-1912) waited for their chance to devour the kingdom.
Gwanghae eventually encountered strong opposition from ministerial officials and was dethroned.
Euodia's Gwanghae is a tender-hearted romantic, and his love interest admires him for who he is.
Set in Hanyang (the former name of Seoul), this story is immensely readable, articularly for teenagers.
The book comprises the first part of a trilogy; the author is currently releasing the second part online in biweekly segments.
― Baek Byung-yeul