Sinsoseol literally "new novel" or "new fiction," was a type of Korean novel

Korean literature

Korean literature is the body of literature produced in Korea or by Korean writers. For much of its 3,000 years of literature history, it was written both in Hanja and in Korean, first using the transcription systems idu and gugyeol, and finally using the Korean script Hangul. It is commonly...

 which began and grew during the Korean Empire

Korean Empire

The Greater Korean Empire was an empire of Korea that succeeded the Joseon Dynasty.In October 1897, Emperor Gojong proclaimed the new entity at Gyeongungung Palace and oversaw the partially successful modernization of the military, economy, land system, education system, and various industries...

, in the late 19th and early 20th century. It was sometimes referred to as gaehwagisoseol (Hangul: 개화기소설), or "enlightenment fiction."

Occurrence

The enlightenment (gaehwagi 개화기) changed Korean people's thought greatly. Some writers who wanted to enlighten people also appeared. Publishers imported modern printers so that they could sell many more books.

Contents

Usually, the contents of sinsoseol highlight enlightenment, or modernization

Modernization

In the social sciences, modernization or modernisation refers to a model of an evolutionary transition from a 'pre-modern' or 'traditional' to a 'modern' society. The teleology of modernization is described in social evolutionism theories, existing as a template that has been generally followed by...

. Encouragement of education, exploding old customs and superstitions, and criticisim of corrupt officials are common themes of sinsoseol.

Major writers

• Yi In-jik (이인직): Hyeorui nu (혈의 누, Tears of blood), Gwiui seong (귀의 성, Ghost sound; 1906), Eunsegye (은세계, Silver world; 1908)
• Yi Hae-jo (이해조): Jayujong (자유종, Bell of liberty; 1910)
• Ahn Guk-sun (안국선): Geumsuhoeuirok (금수회의록, Proceedings of the animal meeting; 1908)