Lee Youngdo

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In this Korean name, the family name is Lee.

Lee Youngdo
Born1972 (age 52–53)
Busan,
South Korea[1]
OccupationNovelist
GenreFantasy
Science fiction
Literary movementKorean fantasy boom of the late 1990s
Notable worksDragon Raja
The Bird That Drinks Tears
Korean name
Hangul
이영도
Hanja
李英道
RRI Yeongdo
MRI Yŏngdo
Website
cafe.naver.com/bloodbird.cafe

Lee Youngdo (Korean: 이영도; Hanja: 李英道; born 1972)[2] is a Korean novelist known for his work in the fantasy and science fiction genre. He is best known for his Dragon Raja series of fantasy novels which is also his debut work[2] and The Bird That Drinks Tears acclaimed for its distinct races and unique worldbuilding.[3]

At the time Dragon Raja was first published in 1998, Korean readership for fantasy genre (specifically its medievalist form) was considered unsubstantial and unaccounted for by press; but Dragon Raja reportedly sold close to 2 million books in 4 languages.[4][5][6] This was a significant feat for the fantasy genre in Korea where the annual circulation of domestic literature and fiction titles as a whole, ranges between 12~20 million copies.[7]

Dragon Raja's success has prompted a rapid growth of Korean fantasy and science fiction genre, and contributed to the growing acceptance of web fiction in 2000s, referred to as "Internet literature" at the time, both by the country's general public and literary world. Lee is widely regarded as one of the best-selling fantasy writers in Korea.[8][9]

Background

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Early life

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Lee was born in 1972 in Busan, South Korea, the first child of two brothers.[10] When Lee was 2 years old, his family moved to Masan in South Gyeongsang Province where he has lived since.[1] As a child he read heavily in various subjects.[11] In 1991 he entered Kyungnam University where he studied Korean language and literature.[12]

He started writing seriously from 1993, but didn't think that he would be writing novels.[13]

Beginnings of the "typer"

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Mid-1990s were when fantasy and science fiction literature was just being introduced to Korea. Lee remembered that "if you asked people what is fantasy, they would say 'Isn't that like western martial arts'" in a 2008 interview.[14] He found the genre attractive and decided to try a story with it.[13] At the time, several online services, similar to CompuServe in the U.S., emerged in Korea. Lee joined one such provider, Hitel, to start posting on its Serial forum what would be the first chapters of Dragon Raja.

Lee serialized Dragon Raja from October 1997 to April 1998, referring to himself as "typer" rather than a writer, due to his method of composing directly on a keyboard. The work gained significant popularity during its run, reportedly attracting readers who waited online for new chapters, often posted after midnight. This pattern led to an informal nickname among fans, who humorously referred to themselves as zombies and to Lee as the Necromancer, a reflection of the serialized nature and late-night updates.[2] Over the six-month serialization, Dragon Raja accumulated approximately 900,000 hits, prompting Golden Bough, an imprint of Minumsa Publishing Group, to acquire the publishing rights. The novel was subsequently released beginning in May 1998 in 12 paperback volumes.[2]

In the midst of his debut success, Lee began typing his second novel Future Walker, a sequel to Dragon Raja. Future Walker was serialised on the same forum from October 1998 to June 1999, and published in August by Golden Bough in 7 paperback volumes.

Lee continued to use Hitel's serial forum for writing his novels such as Polaris Rhapsody, The Bird That Drinks Tears, The Bird That Drinks Blood and a few short stories. All of these stories were published upon completion (and deleted from the forum) or collected in later publications by Golden Bough, which remains Lee's publisher today.

This practice of online serialization and getting published based on its popularity (estimated by the work's view counts) surged in fantasy, science, romance fiction in Korea. Online forums dedicated to these genres opened in hundreds by 2000[15] attracting prospective writers, and caused the boom of the Internet literature.[16]

Outside the forum he published a short story Over the Horizon as an e-book in 2000, and wrote a series of children's stories for RedPen study books published by Kyowon Co. Ltd.

After Hitel

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The popularization of HTTP and the Web browser caused the decline of Hitel and other commercial online services, and Lee's readership on the forum was greatly reduced. But Lee continued to use Hitel forum to 2005, completing The Bird That Drinks Blood, the last of his multi-volume novels as of July 2014.[17]

After the forum was closed in 2007[18] Lee said in an interview that he was searching for a place to serialize his work online, saying that "the realtime feedback from the readers is a big joy, and I miss that feeling." But he found it difficult to find a replacement to the old text-only forum, which was "easier for [him] to access because [the forum]'s white text on blue limited one's expression to text, and it enabled [him] to show individuality purely through words." The web's increased sense of community and of the writer's presence thereby, made it more difficult for him. "I believe words and people are separate," Lee said, "some people may like a writing and want to find about the writer, but I don't."[14]

Between 2005 and 2008 Lee wrote several short stories for science fiction magazines, including Regarding the Translation of KAIWAPANDOM which has been translated into English.[19] There were talks of publishing Dragon Raja in the United States in 2006, to which Lee's response was "I don't want to disgrace our country."[20]

Lee's publisher Golden Bough has run an online community from 2000[21] and invite the fan community to get involved in publication of Lee's books, such as limited edition campaigns, audiobook productions, and previews for upcoming works.[22][23]

Officially, not much is known about Lee's life outside writing, other than that he helps out at his parents' persimmon farm in his spare time.[14]

Writing (or Typing)

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Since his debut with Dragon Raja Lee has been recognized for his prolific output, having published 40 books, including six novels, in the span of seven years. When asked about his writing speed, he remarked "it just gets written, and once started I can't contain it, and sometimes write as much as [29 pages] a day,"[9] while also noting that "each line after line is hard still."[14]

Lee often incorporates wordplay and philosophical discourse into his work, frequently exploring metaphysical themes. He described his approach as "the way I like is, even if it becomes difficult, separating what can be separated."[13]

Korean fantasy genre

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Lee is often credited as one of the pioneers for fantasy literature in Korea for helping legitimize the genre within the country's literary circles. His works are known for their large-scale worldbuilding and for incorporating political and philosophical themes.[13][24] Lee has been reluctant to comment on critical interpretations of his work.[13]

In an interview with Naver Lee stated that "fantasy is better when read as fantasy", expressing concern that excessive allegorical readings could obscure a work's imaginative value. He remarked:

"Treating The Lord of the Rings as a shoddy allegory to reality, or reading it as an example of Orientalism where Gandalf the 'White' crowns the returned king of the 'West', would leave a lot of the novel to be missed. (If you admit such, almost outrageous logic, then because humanity becomes extincts many times, Kurt Vonnegut would be anti-humanism, sadly.)"

He continued:

"Fantasy is fantasy—it is not reality's narrow allegories or a frightening siumulcarum; it neither disguises reality nor replaces it."

Lee compared the experience of reading fantasy to entering another world to give or gain something, and then returning to reality, citing The Neverending Story by Michael Ende as an example. He also noted being "fantastic" has little to do with a fantasy work's overall quality.[13]

Style and major themes

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Lee's writing style is characterized by frequent use of defamiliarization, with metaphysical and philosophical conversations forming a core element of his narratives.[25]

A recurring theme in Lee's work examination of human nature, especially humanity's capacity for change. In Dragon Raja series, humans are portrayed as a race defined not by innate strength—unlike elves, dwarves, or dragons—but by their ability to change the world and shape time.[T 1] This theme is further developed in Future Walker which explores how this transformative capacity influences the future.[T 2]

In Polaris Rhapsody Lee explores the human desire for revenge and freedom within feudal conflicts and pirate wars. The story also introduces the Highmasters of Pandamonium, figures comparable to Seven Princes of Hell, who collectively vote on the fate of humanity.[26][T 3]

Lee's novels often delve into religion and political power structures. In Polaris Rhapsody a religious institution resembling the medieval Catholic Church coexists with the Highmasters, who play active roles in politics and warfare.[26] In The Bird That Drinks Tears, the world is shaped by a cosmology of four gods, each associated with a specific race. Each race receives distinct traits and gifts from its patron deity, and the balance of power among these gods sustains the flow of the world. If any one is disrupted, the world's cycle is thrown into disorder. The title of the novel refers to an ideal ruler—one who "drinks the tears" of others; symbolizing compassion and the burden of leadership.[27]

The concept of the king(왕)—an ideal ruler—reappears throughout Lee's works. In The Bird That Drinks Tears the human race is portrayed as seeking the king,[28] and its sequel, The Bird That Drinks Blood, depicts an empire founded by this ideal king. The empire achieves peace and order, governed from a grand flying capital. The story is presented through multiple character perspectives, each relating to the empire's power and their own roles within or against it.[29]

Wordplay involving Korean language appears frequently in Lee's character and creature names. In Dragon Raja and Future Walker, for example, the character name "Karl" reflect his sharp intellect, as "kal(칼)" means "knife" in Korean. Similarly, "Sanson" alludes to strength in battle, derived from "ssen son(센 손)" meaning "strong hands." In Polaris Rhapsody, the brothers Sopala and Sosara have names that translate to “Sellcow” and “Buycow.”In The Bird That Drinks Blood, the brothers Saramal and Paramal mean “Buyhorse” and “Sellhorse” respectively. The same novel features two skyrays(하늘치) from opposing factions named Sori and Mali. These names carry multiple meanings in Korean: Sori(소리) can mean "sound" or "cow-ry,” and Mali(말리) can mean “jasmine flower” or “horse-ry."

Bibliography

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Dragon Raja series

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Set in a fantasy world influenced by the works of J.R.R. Tolkien and Dungeons & Dragons, the series explores themes of change, identity, and power.

  • Dragon Raja (드래곤 라자) (1998)
  • Future Walker (퓨처 워커) (1999)
  • Marks of Shadow (그림자 자국) (2008) - Set a thousand years after the original novels

Short stories

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  • Golem (골렘) (1998)
  • Chimera (키메라) (2001)
  • The Source of Happiness (행복의 근원) (2004)

Children's book

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  • Wisdom of the Desert (사막의 지혜) (2008) - An illustrated story published as part of Dragon Raja 's 10th anniversary edition

The Bird series

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Critically noted for its use of archaic Korean and mythological depth, the series features four races and their deities.[24][27][28]

Short story collections

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  • You Are My (너는 나의) (2023) - A special short story published for the 20th anniversary of The Bird That Drinks Tears.
  • Sketches (소묘들) (2023) - Contains six short stories by Lee, published for the 20th anniversary of The Bird That Drinks Tears.

Spin-off

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  • Elegy of the Forest (숲의 애가) (2023) - A fan-fiction anthology of six short stories set in the Bird series universe, written by other authors and selected via a competition held by the publisher. Lee contributed commentary on each story.[30][31][32]

Over series

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Set in a small frontier town protected by Deputy Sheriff Tir Strike and Sheriff Ifari, blending fantasy and social commentary.

  • Over the Choice (오버 더 초이스) (2018)

Short stories

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  • Over the Horizon (오버 더 호라이즌) (2001)
  • Over the Nebula (오버 더 네뷸러) (2001)
  • Over the Mist (오버 더 미스트) (2004)

Other works

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  • Polaris Rhapsody (폴라리스 랩소디) (2001) tells the story of pirates, medieval empires and the church.[33]
  • Chapter of Shiha and Kanta - A Story of the Mart (시하와 칸타의 장 - 마트 이야기) (2020)
  • Sir Urstam's Last Words (어스탐 경의 임사전언) (Upcoming, 2025)[34]
    • Related short stories: Esoril's Dragon (에소릴의 드래곤) (2009), Shangpi's Miners (샹파이의 광부들) (2009)

Speculative short fiction

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Collected in Regarding Starknitting (별뜨기에 관하여) (2020)

  • Mysterious Stories (SINBIROUN 이야기) (2000)
  • Spring Is Here (봄이 왔다) (2005)
  • Regarding the Translation of KAIWAPANDOM (카이와판돔의 번역에 관하여) (2005) – English translation available
  • Regarding the Robot that Became A Savior (구세주가 된 로봇에 대하여) (2006)
  • Regarding the Meaning of Teleportation (순간이동의 의미에 대하여) (2007)
  • The Eye Looking at Me (나를 보는 눈) (2008)
  • Regarding Starknitting (별뜨기에 관하여) (2008)
  • Regarding the Mother of Vengeance (복수의 어머니에 관하여) (2012)

Other collected works

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  • Lee Youngdo's Stories of Fantasy (이영도 판타지 단편집) (2001)
  • Over the Horizon: A Collection of Lee Youngdo's Fantastic Stories (오버 더 호라이즌 – 이영도 환상단편 소설선) (2004)
  • Over the Horizon: Short & Novella by Lee Youngdo (오버 더 호라이즌 – 이영도 중단편소설집) (2018)

Adaptations

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Video games

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Dragon Raja & Future Walker

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Further information: Dragon_Raja § Video_games

The world and characters of Dragon Raja and Future Walker have been adapted into several games. One of the earliest was Dragon Raja Online (2000), a PC MMORPG released in 10 countries, including Taiwan and China, where it was marked under the title 龍族.[35] The novel was published as the same title and promoted alongside the game in these markets. Several mobile games based on Dragon Raja have since been released, including the action RPG Dragon Raja M (2016)[36] and Dragon Raja Origin (2021).[37]

The Bird That Drinks Tears

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Further information: The_Bird_That_Drinks_Tears § Video_Games

In August 2022, the game company Krafton announced Project Windless, a video game adaptation of The Bird That Drinks Tears. The company unveiled concept art and cinematic trailers[38][39] and published an art book Crossing the Limit (Korean: 한계선을 넘다) featuring development insights and artworks by 17 artists including renowned film designer Iain McCaig.[40]

The project is currently under development by Krafton Montreal, led by a team that includes former Ubisoft developers.[41]

Illustrated editions

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The Japanese edition of Dragon Raja and Future Walker are illustrated by Eiji Kaneda, best known for his work for the anime Genesis of Aquarion.

Some of Lee's short stories Regarding the Translation of KAIWAPANDOM[42] and Regarding Starknitting[43] include illustrations.

The 20th anniversary editions of The Bird That Drinks Tears and The Bird That Drinks Blood feature new artworks by Seongmin Baek, known for his Korean painting style graphic novels.[44][45][46]

Audiobooks

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Several of Lee's works have been adapted into audio dramas or unabridged audiobooks, often with full voice casts:

  • Over The Choice (2018) – Audio drama
  • The Bird That Drinks Tears (2020) – Full-cast unabridged audiobook
  • Marks of Shadow (2020) – Full-cast unabridged audiobook
  • Esoril's Dragon (2020) – Audio drama
  • Over The Horizon / Over the Nebula / Over the Mist (2021) – Audio dramas
  • A Scene from a Laboratory (2021) – Audio drama
  • Regarding Starknitting / The Translation of KAIWAPANDOM (2021) – Audio dramas
  • Dragon Raja (2021–2022) – Full-cast unabridged audiobook, released exclusively on Naver Audio Clip.
  • You Are My / Sketches (2023) – Audio dramas
  • The Bird That Drinks Blood – Full-cast unabridged audiobook currently in production, announced by Golden Bough in 2024[47]

Radio

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In 2001, Dragon Raja was adopted for radio as part of KBS Radio 2's Fantasy Express program. A total of 83 episodes were broadcast.[48]

References

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  1. ^ a b Lee Youngdo, and 7 Others (2009). Tell the Dead(죽은 자들에게 고하라). Haeto. ISBN 1-886778-57-4.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ a b c d Lee, Youngdo (1998). Dragon Raja. Seoul: Golden Bough, Inc. ISBN 89-8273-052-4.
  3. ^ Kim, Mihee (4 December 2018). "Following Dragon Raja, Lee Yeongdo's 'The Bird That Drinks Tears' to Become a Game". GameMeca. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  4. ^ Jeong, Yang-hwan (26 November 2008). "Dragon Raja into games and comics, leading in the "content expansion"". Seoul: The Dong-a Ilbo. Archived from the original on 8 March 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2001.
  5. ^ Jo, Gyeong-guk (23 July 2005). "More like a Typer than an Author". Seoul: OhmyNews. Retrieved 26 August 2011.
  6. ^ The author's profile in The Bird That Drinks Blood says that Dragon Raja was published in Hong Kong (probably Chinese) and Thailand (Thai). Lee, Youngdo (2008). The Bird That Drinks Blood 3, The Ruler of the Bloodshed. Seoul: Golden Bough, Inc. ISBN 89-8273-934-3.
  7. ^ "Total circulation trend by subjects over the recent decade (New titles, 1998~2007)". Korean Publishers Association. July 2008. Archived from the original on 8 February 2011. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
  8. ^ Jeon, Gyeong-u (15 December 2000). "[Native and Foreign Fantasy] Fun Picks". Seoul: Hankook Ilbo. Retrieved 26 August 2011.
  9. ^ a b Kwon, Gi-tae (14 July 2005). "Dragon Raja's Megahit Fantasy Author Lee Youngdo's Newest, The Bird That Drinks Blood". Seoul: The Dong-a Ilbo. Retrieved 26 August 2011.
  10. ^ "News: Signing and Tea with Lee Youngdo – Report Pt.1". Where Wings Are Spread(Korean: 날개를 펴는 곳). Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 26 August 2011.
  11. ^ Ji, Hui-seok (3 August 2005). "The Bird That Drinks Blood Fantasy Author Lee Youngdo "Fantasy is my own creative world"". Seoul: Financial News. Retrieved 26 August 2011.
  12. ^ "Department of Korean Language and Literature". Kyungnam University Admissions Office. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
  13. ^ a b c d e f "Interview with author Lee Youngdo – Separating Writing and Writer". Naver Book Today. 31 January 2009. Retrieved 26 August 2011.
  14. ^ a b c d Hwang, Hui-gyeong (2 December 2008). "Culture and People Dragon Raja 's Lee Youngdo". Seoul: Yonhap News. Retrieved 26 August 2011.
  15. ^ Yun, Seung-a (1 May 2000). "Click! Cyber 'Poetopia' opens its doors". Seoul: Korean Economics Daily. Retrieved 26 August 2011.[permanent dead link]
  16. ^ Kim, Ji-yeong (16 July 2010). "These novels will chill you to the bone". Seoul: The Dong-a Ilbo. Retrieved 26 August 2011.
  17. ^ Lee, Ji-hye (7 July 2014). "The secret behind Lee Youngdo's lost new work". Seoul: Yonhap News. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  18. ^ "Announcement of Hitel VT Service's Closure". Archived from the original on 2 December 2008. Retrieved 26 August 2011.
  19. ^ "Regarding the Translation of KAIWAPANDOM". Crossroads. Retrieved 26 August 2011.
  20. ^ "Lee Youngdo's opinion about exporting Dragon Raja to the United States". Lee Youngdo Official Publication Cafe. Retrieved 26 August 2011.
  21. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20040322105305/http://www.minumsa.com/cgibin/board.cgi?db=golden&page=172&ftype=6&fval=
  22. ^ "Lee Youngdo Official Publication Cafe". Retrieved 26 August 2011.
  23. ^ "Polarid Rhapsody (Hardcover Set)". Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  24. ^ a b Hwang, Jang-seok (13 October 2008). "People and Study 2, "Cyber novel is literature" Prof. Na Eunjin". Seoul: The Dong-a Ilbo. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 26 August 2011.
  25. ^ Lee, Youngseo (30 June 2024). "The Value of the Genre of Fantasy as a 'Field' of Philosophy: Focusing on Lee Young-do's Dragon Raja and Future Walker". Journal of Popular Narrative. 30 (2): 335–374. doi:10.18856/jpn.2024.30.2.010.
  26. ^ a b "[New Literary Releases] Thunderclap and Others". Kookmin Ilbo. 18 December 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  27. ^ a b "Notable New Books – The Bird That Drinks Tears (4 volumes)". Seoul: Digital Times. 13 February 2003. Retrieved 26 August 2011.
  28. ^ a b Lee, Chung-ho (14 June 2007). "Book Reading 365: Lee Youngdo The Bird That Drinks Tears". Seoul: Kyunghyang Shinmun. Retrieved 26 August 2011.
  29. ^ "15 July New Books". Seoul: The Hankyoreh. 14 July 2005. Retrieved 26 August 2011.
  30. ^ "The Bird That Drinks Tears Fan-Fiction Contest Finalists". BritG. 8 October 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  31. ^ Shin, Jae-woo (11 January 2023). "'The Bird That Drinks Tears' Fan-Fic Anthology 『숲의 애가』 Released". Newsis. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  32. ^ Kim, Hye-kyung (25 January 2023). "[New Release] 『숲의 애가』". Readers News. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  33. ^ Kwon, Taekyoung; Yoon, Junghoon (21 September 2009). "Lee Yeongdo, Infusing Humanities into Fantasy Literature". DongA Ilbo. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  34. ^ ""2025 Seoul International Book Fair BritG News & Events"". 10 June 2025. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  35. ^ Mun, Byeong-do (20 July 2001). "eSofnet Exports $98,000 to Taiwan". L.A.: Hankook Ilbo. Retrieved 20 May 2001.
  36. ^ Kim, Seung-hyun (26 February 2016). "Dragon Raja M Hits No.9 in Sales – 'Feels Like Setting Foot in Sacred Land'". ThisIsGame. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  37. ^ Lee, Joo-hwan (4 June 2021). "Successive game adaptations of popular novel IPs are attracting attention". The Games Daily. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  38. ^ Blake, Vikki (24 September 2022). "PUBG dev shares "concept trailer" for its game based upon the Korean novel, *The Bird That Drinks Tears*". Eurogamer. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  39. ^ "PUBG devs are making a game based on Korean fantasy epic The Bird That Drinks Tears". Rockpaper Shotgun. 24 September 2022. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  40. ^ "Ian McCaig: "I've met a Korean fantasy comparable to Lord of the Rings and Dune"". 8 December 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
  41. ^ Batchelor, James (8 February 2023). "Ex-Ubisoft devs lead Krafton's new AAA studio in Montreal". GamesIndustry.biz. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  42. ^ "Regarding the Translation of KAIWAPANDOM". Crossroads. Retrieved 26 August 2011.
  43. ^ "Regarding Starknitting". Crossroads. Retrieved 26 August 2011.
  44. ^ Kwak, Sung Il (25 May 2023). "Legendary Fantasy Author Lee Yeongdo Releases Special Illustrated Edition of "The Bird That Drinks Tears"". Kyungbook Ilbo. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  45. ^ Koo, Eun-seo (16 June 2025). "Recover Edition Book Releases Surge Ahead of Seoul International Book Fair". Korea Economic Daily. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  46. ^ "20th Anniversary Limited Illustrated Edition Set of The Bird That Drinks Blood – Baduk Board Miniature Version". Golden Bough BritG. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  47. ^ "Recording Session with Fans for The Bird That Drinks Blood Audiobook". Golden Bough BritG (YouTube). 15 August 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  48. ^ "Fantasy Express – Fantasy Horror Mystery Drama". KBS Radio 2. Archived from the original on 19 October 2014. Retrieved 24 August 2011.

Primary

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  1. ^ Dragon Raja, ch. 2 "Of Kettles and Heads; 주전자와 머리의 비교"
  2. ^ Future Walker, Chapter 9 "The Artisan of Time; 시간의 장인"
  3. ^ Polaris Rhapsody, Vol. 1 "The Empire's Public Enemy No. 1; 제국의 공적 1호" Book introduction by the publisher
[edit]
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