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🇰🇷 South Korea /Culture & Society

Paper 'Zines' Tied by Hand, Not Shorts, Are Loved!

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Sources not specified Context piece
  • "Zines," small, self-published magazines, are experiencing a resurgence as a form of independent expression, moving beyond traditional publishing.
  • These publications, ranging from personal stories to fan tributes and artistic explorations, allow creators to freely express their unique narratives and passions.
  • The trend reflects a growing desire for tangible, personal connection in the digital age, with zines originating from subcultures and finding global appeal.

In an era dominated by digital content, a tangible counter-trend is emerging: the resurgence of "zines." These small, self-published magazines, once a staple of subcultures, are experiencing a renaissance, offering a unique platform for personal expression and connection. From personal travelogues to fan tributes and explorations of niche interests, zines provide creators with the freedom to share their stories and passions in a format that feels both intimate and independent.

The most independent and free expression format, 'zine,' allows you to express your own story or your affection for your favorite artist. That's why zines are used in punk music or subcultures.

— Maeng Ju-heeMaeng Ju-hee, co-founder of Supersonic Studio, explains the appeal of zines as a medium for independent and free expression, particularly within subcultures like punk music.

Kim Young-jin, representative of Supersonic Studio, exemplifies this movement. His zine, "(Look at My) New Jeans," playfully documented his honeymoon with humorous alterations to his travel photos. The unexpected positive reception at an independent publishing fair in Jeonju highlighted the appeal of such personal narratives. His wife and co-founder, Maeng Ju-hee, also creates zines, including a fan tribute to the band Oasis and a booklet celebrating her birthday, demonstrating the diverse range of subjects these small publications can encompass.

Supersonic Studio, founded after Kim and Maeng left traditional jobs, focuses on researching and curating indie music and subcultures. They produce zines from interviews with musicians and host "zine-making workshops," emphasizing the DIY ethos. Maeng notes that zines allow for "the most independent and free expression," a key reason for their use in punk music and subcultures. Their international engagement, including participation in art book fairs in the Philippines and Germany, underscores the global reach of this independent publishing movement.

My stupid jeans ruined my honeymoon photos. So I decided to wear cool-fitting jeans in the photos.

— Kim Young-jinKim Young-jin, representative of Supersonic Studio, explains the concept behind his zine '(Look at My) New Jeans,' which humorously alters his honeymoon photos.

The article traces the history of zines, noting their origins in the 1930s American SF fan community with publications like "The Comet." Their low cost and accessibility made them popular among marginalized creators and fans. Zines became crucial for SF, social movements, punk, feminist, and queer communities, fostering DIY culture. Today, zines continue to evolve, experimenting with diverse content and forms, including visually driven, handcrafted objects, reflecting a continued desire for unique, tactile media.

The stories of women contemplating marriage, fandom, and love are connected as if their backs are against each other, so I chose this binding method.

— Jin Seo-haArtist Jin Seo-ha explains the choice of the Dos-à-dos binding for the zine 'Facing Each Other,' which features stories from women exploring relationships and societal norms.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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