Digital Literature in South Korea. A new narrative paradigm

This dissertation provides an in-depth analysis of the emergence and evolution of digital literature in South Korea, with a specific focus on web sosŏl (web novels). By contextualizing web novels within South Korea’s literary and cultural history, the study explores how they have transformed traditional narrative practices through their interactivity, seriality, and accessibility. The first part of the research traces the historical and theoretical development of digital literature, examining how web novels have redefined author-reader dynamics. The study highlights the genre’s participatory nature, where readers actively shape narratives through feedback, and explores the significance of transmedia strategies, such as One Source Multi-Use (OSMU), in adapting web novels into webtoons, dramas, and games. A key component of the dissertation is an empirical study conducted in South Korea, including 31 interviews with web novel authors. This investigation reveals how web novels have democratized literary production by bypassing traditional publishing pathways, while also exposing challenges such as the pressure for rapid output and creative fatigue. The final section examines the reception of South Korean web novels on a global scale, using case studies like Under the Oak Tree and Solo Leveling. It explores cross-cultural interpretations and highlights differences in reader engagement between domestic and international audiences. Through a combination of qualitative and quantitative analysis, the study underscores the growing international appeal of web novels as cultural products that bridge diverse cultural contexts. By integrating literary analysis, sociology, and media studies, this dissertation offers a comprehensive perspective on web novels as a transformative cultural phenomenon. It contributes to understanding how digital storytelling reshapes authorship, reader engagement, and the globalization of South Korean culture.