Joo Won-gyu

Joo Won-gyu (Korean: 주원규; born in 1975 in Seoul) is South Korean pastor, novelist and writer. Currently, he focuses on religious activities such as reading the Bible in small groups and serves as the director of the Institute for Shared Culture, which explores everyday art and cultural discoveries. His books include the winner of the 14th Hankyoreh Literary Award, 'A Cruel History of an Outsider Race', as well as the novels 'Bad God', 'Invincible Rogue Baseball Team', 'The Watchtower', 'Anti-Human Declaration', 'A Christmas Carol', 'Door of Memory', and 'The Survival of a Helpless Boy'. He has also written the youth novel 'Hideout', 'The Detective in the World', and essays such as 'Ecstatic or Bad', 'It's Okay to Not Cheer up', and 'Child Monster Victim'. In addition, he has written criticisms such as 'Jesus of the Earth, Jesus of the Sky', 'Sanctuary and Babel', and 'Jesus of Progress, Jesus of Conservatism'. He is a Talmud researcher who has translated 'The Talmud closest to the original source' and wrote the 2017 tvN drama 'Argon'.

In this Korean name, the family name is Joo.

Joo Won-gyu
Born1975
Seoul, South Korea
Alma materChongshin College and Theological Seminary (M.div.equ)
Graduate School Theological Seminary of Gangseo University (Th.M)
Occupations
  • Pastor
  • Novelist
  • Scriptwriter
Years active2001–present
EmployerDongseo Malseum Church
AgentWriter of Finecut (WAF)
Awards14th Hankyoreh Literary Award for 'A Cruel History of an Outsider Race'
Korean name
Hangul
주원규
Revised RomanizationJoo Won-gyu
McCune–ReischauerJoo Won-gyu

Since 2017, Joo is affiliated to writer's agency Writer of Finecut (WAF).[1]

Early life

Joo was born in 1975 to a Buddhist devout mother. He converted to Buddhism in his third year of elementary school. However, the trajectory of his life after that was filled with twists and turns. During his middle school years, he fell victim to school bullies who made him a 'Bread Shuttle'. To survive, he joined a group of delinquents and became a subordinate to the 'Jjang' at school. His teenage years were spent in a flurry of questionable activities, to the point where the school authorities recommended that he drop out.[2]

The beginning of Joo's literature journey wasn't particularly grandiose. Joo feels slightly embarrassed admitting it, but he enjoyed writing novels in high school at the age of 18. He received overwhelmingly positive feedback from peers, likely due to the quality of his writing. Joo was encouraged to continue writing, until He ended up in engineering school, which took him away from writing. However, Joo feels like he were pulled back to writing, almost like a spring or an inertia that kept him going.[2]

Joo majored in electrical engineering in at Seoul National University of Science and Technology.[3] He isolated himself in the library and devoted his time to reading books unrelated to his major. He eventually dropped out as it did not align with his expectations.[2] After going to and from three or four theological colleges, he continued to study theology at the seminary affiliated with the General Assembly and he was ordained as a minister in March 2009. He settled down and now holds the position of a pastor who runs an alternative church.[3][4]

In 2003, his short story won the New Year's Literary Contest of <Gwangju Daily News>, but he is writing alone without any ties to the literary world before or after that. Last April, he published <System>, a political thriller novel based on the Internet.[4]

Career

Pastor Joo Won-kyu is a novelist who beat 211 competitors to win the 14th Hankyoreh Literary Award in 2009 with his work, "A Cruel History of an Outsider Race." His work has been praised for its bold setting, interesting characters, and provocative messages since the trial stage. The judges speculated that Joo's work was from outside the "establishment system" of the university's creative arts department. Although they pointed out rough sentences and traces of movies and games as flaws, they judged that they were not enough to detract from the author's competence and the explosiveness of his work. The judges expressed their curiosity, saying, "I wonder who this person is."[4]

"The simultaneous eruption events in the cross-sections of life are converging into dark sketches of our society. The inexorable style and youthful imagination are creating a new form of 'totality'."

Hwang Kwang-soo, a literary critic, about novel 'A Cruel History of an Outsider Race', Khan Newspaper[5]

In the same year, he was ordained as a minister and founded a church, where he has been pastoring for seven years. After his debut, he wrote full-length novels, reviews, autobiographies, interviews, youth novels, and fairy tales, and has published over 20 books to date. He occasionally works as an electrician, taking advantage of his background in engineering.[2]

Pastor Joo started ministering to out-of-school youth in youth shelters and correctional facilities in 2012, after his wife passed away in an unexpected accident. His wife had also ministered to out-of-school youth before they got married. When she passed away, he decided to carry on her ministry and continue her legacy.[6]

In 2015, Pastor Joo lost contact with 20 runaway teenagers he had previously met. Later, he found out that the teenagers were working at a club in Gangnam after asking around. Pastor Joo worked undercover at the Gangnam club for six months and was able to meet most of the children he had lost contact with at the time. Many of the male children had become guards or hosts (male waiters), and most of the female children were engaged in prostitution. However, despite his efforts, he was unable to persuade them to leave.[6]

In the end, Pastor Joo had no choice but to end his infiltration after six months. He felt a sense of shame that he couldn't bring any of the children into society, and became numb after witnessing these crimes every day. He felt that he was being stained by their logic and came to the conclusion that he had to come out as soon as possible. On February 28, he published his experience as a novel called "Made in Gangnam" (published by Neofiction).[6]

In 2017, Joo co-wrote the tvN drama Argon with Jeon Young-shin and Shin Ha-eun. Directed by Lee Yoon-jung and starring Kim Joo-hyuk and Chun Woo-hee, the drama depicts the lives of passionate journalists who are determined to reveal the truth through facts in a world overflowing with fake news.[7]

Bibliography

Novel
Year Title Publisher Published Date ISBN Ref.
English Korean
2009 System 시스템 Lightning Rod Books 2009-04-10 978-8-9927-2341-1 [4]
A Cruel History of an Outsider Race 열외인종 잔혹사 Hankyoreh Publishing House 2009-07-15 978-8-9843-1341-5 [8]
2010 Invincible bad baseball team 천하무적 불량야구단 Saeum 2010-01-15 978-8-9939-6406-6 [9]
The Watchtower 망루 Literature of Literature 2010-07-31 978-8-9431-0369-9 [10]
2011 The Palace of Fire 불의 궁전 Literature of Literature 2011-12-08 978-8-9431-0387-3 [11]
2012 Anti-human Declaration 반인간선언 Consonants and Vowels 2012-01-03 978-8-9570-7623-1 [12]
2015 Door of Memory 기억의 문 Hankyoreh Publishing House 2015.03.16. 978-8-9843-1886-1 [13]
2016 Christmas Carol 크리스마스 캐럴 Consonants and Vowels 2016-12-20 978-8-9544-3701-1 [14]
2017 Saimdang, Drawing Longing 사임당, 그리움을 그리다 Humanities Academy 2017-01-25 979-1-1865-4228-6 [15]
Bad God 나쁜 하나님 New 2017-09-20 979-1-1871-9257-2 [16]
2019 Made in Gangnam 메이드 인 강남 Neofiction 2019-02-25 978-8-9544-3972-5 [17]
One Kiss Missing 한 개 모자란 키스 Seo Yoojae 2019-10-30 979-1-1890-3422-1 [18]
Anti-human Declaration 반인간선언(증오하는 인간) Consonants and Vowels 2019-11-07 979-1-1888-5050-1 [19]
2020 Persons subject to special management 특별관리대상자 Hankyoreh Publishing House 2020-02-26 979-1-1604-0362-6 [20]
2021 To people who don't know me 나를 모르는 사람들에게 Hankyoreh Publishing House 2021-06-10 979-1-1604-0604-7 [21]
2022 Seocho-dong League 서초동 리그 Neofiction 2022-01-25 978-8-9544-4801-7 [22]
2023 Naked Body 벗은 몸 Floating 2023-03-10 979-1-1979-2431-6 [23]

Audio books
Year Title Producer Publication Date Ref.
English Korean
2021 Talmud: Today, like the first day, like the last day 탈무드: 오늘 하루 첫 번째 날처럼 마지막 날처럼 Mari Books 2021-08-02

Filmography

Film
Film credit
Year Title Credited as Notes
English Korean Original Writer Screenwriter Creator
2022 Christmas Carol 크리스마스 캐럴 Yes Co-writing[lower-alpha 1] No [25]
2023 Asura: The War of the Beehair 아수라장: 범털들의 전쟁 No Yes No [26]

Television series
Television drama(s) credit
Year Title Network Credited as Note Ref.
English Korean Original writer Scriptwiter Planning
2017 Argon 아르곤 tvN No Yes No Co-author (with authors Joon Young-shin and Shin Ha-eun) [27]
2019 The Lies Within 모두의 거짓말 OCN Yes No Yes based on novel Anti-Human Declaration by Joo Won-gyu [28][29]

Web series
Web series credit
Year Title Credited as Notes
English Korean Original Writer Screenwriter Creator
TBA Bulk 벌크 No Yes No [30]
TBA Netizen 망내인 No Co-writing[lower-alpha 2] No [30][26]

Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2000 The 2nd Ganhyang Architectural Literature Award Essay Architecture as a Function of Judgment Won [31]
2006 Gwangju Daily Literary Award Short Story Knife Won [32]
2009 The 14th Hankyoreh Literary Award Novel A Cruel History of an Outsider RaceWon [33]

See also
  • South Korean Screenwriter

Notes
  1. with director Kim Seong-soo[24]
  2. with Kim Jee-woon

References
  1. "'동주' 신연식-'아르곤' 주원규, 국내 최초 작가 에이전시 계약" ['Dongju' Shin Yeon-sik – 'Argon' Joo Won-gyu signed the first writer agency contract in Korea]. 언론사 뷰. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  2. Kang, Dong-seok (September 1, 2016). "한국교회, '해체'가 답이다" [Korean church, 'dissolution' is the answer.]. 뉴스앤조이 (in Korean). Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  3. "목사 작가 주원규 7번째 장편소설 '반인간 선언… ' 출간" [Pastor writer Joo Won-gyu's 7th novel 'An anti-human declaration...' published]. 서울신문 (in Korean). January 7, 2012. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  4. ""열외인간들 모아 분노의 비주류축제 벌였죠"" ["We gathered outsiders and held a smainstream festival of anger."]. www.hani.co.kr (in Korean). May 27, 2009. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  5. ""비주류의 공분 표출할 수 없는 현실 그려"" ["Draw the reality that can't express the resonance of non-mainstream"]. 경향신문 (in Korean). July 16, 2009. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  6. "학교밖 아이들 클럽 취업 후 마약 알선 및 성매매...안타까워" [Out-of-school children's club post-employment drug placement and sex trafficking... I feel sorry for you]. yhnews. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  7. "[인터뷰] '아르곤' 김주혁 "손석희 앵커와 비슷? 흉내 내지 않았다"" [[Interview] 'Argon' Kim Joo-hyuk "Similar to anchor Son Seok-hee? I didn't imitate it."]. 종합일간지 : 신문/웹/모바일 등 멀티 채널로 국내외 실시간 뉴스와 수준 높은 정보를 제공 (in Korean). October 19, 2017. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  8. "한겨레문학상에 주원규씨 '열외인종 잔혹사'" [Joo Won-gyu's 'Atrocities of Extrahumanity' at the Hankyoreh Literary Award]. www.hani.co.kr (in Korean). May 27, 2009. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  9. "불량 감독·선수, 짜고치는 야구 판 뒤집기". 국민일보 (in Korean). January 22, 2010. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  10. "주원규 신작장편소설 '망루'". 언론사 뷰. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  11. "12월 17일 교양·문학 새 책". www.hani.co.kr (in Korean). December 16, 2011. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  12. "목사 작가 주원규 7번째 장편소설 '반인간 선언.. ' 출간". 언론사 뷰. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  13. "'살인기계' 여주인공의 기억을 위한 싸움". www.hani.co.kr (in Korean). March 19, 2015. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  14. "[새책 200자 읽기] '크리스마스 캐럴' 外". 서울경제 (in Korean). December 23, 2016. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  15. 김광섭. ""사임당, 지금 느껴도 당차고 주체적인 여성"". n.news.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  16. "＜뉴스앤조이＞ 연재 소설 '나쁜 하나님' 출간 북 콘서트". 뉴스앤조이 (in Korean). September 18, 2017. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  17. "[인터뷰│'메이드 인 강남' 주원규 작가] 강남 클럽에서 미성년자 성매매 공공연히 벌어져" [[Interview│'Made in Gangnam' writer Joo Won-gyu] Underage prostitution takes place in public at Gangnam Club]. 내일신문. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  18. "11월 15일 어린이·청소년 새 책". www.hani.co.kr (in Korean). November 14, 2019. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  19. "[신간] 반인간선언 / 로메리고 주식회사" [[New] Anti-Humanity Declaration / Romerigo Co., Ltd.]. 뉴스1 (in Korean). November 15, 2019. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  20. "2월 28일 문학 새 책". www.hani.co.kr (in Korean). February 28, 2020. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  21. 이승우 (June 11, 2021). "직시해야만 드러나는 가출 청소년 잔혹사". 연합뉴스 (in Korean). Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  22. ""정신 차려, 여기 서초동이야"…한 검찰 스토리, 이것은 소설? 현실?". www.pressian.com (in Korean). February 5, 2022. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  23. "[1일1책] 종교적 정답의 모순을 고발하고 편견과 통념에 질문하는 이야기". 뉴스앤조이 (in Korean). March 24, 2023. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  24. "아시아프로젝트마켓에 이름을 올린 한국 감독들" [Korean Directors Named in Asia Project Market]. MarieClaireKorea (in Korean). September 29, 2021. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  25. "주원규 "버닝썬 사태는 포화 상태에 이르러 공론화된 것"" [Joo Won-gyu "The burning sun incident has become a public debate when it reaches a state of saturation"]. hub.zum.com (in Korean). March 25, 2019. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  26. "배우 최민, 영화 '아수라장: 범털들의 전쟁' 김대호 역 출연". sports.khan.co.kr (in Korean). July 14, 2023. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  27. "Argon CJENM Website". CJENM. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
  28. "'타인은 지옥이다' 후속 '모두의 거짓말', 10월12일 첫방 확정(공식)". Naver (in Korean). MBN. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
  29. 반인간선언 – Yes24.
  30. Bae, Dong-mi (December 8, 2022). "용필름, 박찬욱‧김지운‧방우리 감독 차기작 제작한다" [Yongfilm, director Park Chan-wook, Kim Ji-woon, and Bang Woo-ri will produce the next film.]. Cine 21 (씨네21) (in Korean). Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  31. ""주신 삶의 아름다움 일깨우는 '열린 예배당'이 좋은 건축"". 국민일보 (in Korean). September 10, 2021. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  32. "제2회 광주일보문학상 소설가 주원규씨 수상". 조선일보 (in Korean). August 5, 2020. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  33. "한겨레문학상에 주원규씨 '열외인종 잔혹사'" [Joo Won-gyu's 'Atrocities of Extrahumanity' at the Hankyoreh Literary Award]. 언론사 뷰. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
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