Kyobo Bookstore 'Search-Light Contest' Grand Prize... Parameter 'Special Personnel Grievance Handling TF Team'

At the 1st 'Search-Light Contest' hosted by Kyobo Book Centre's web literature platform 'Weather of Creation,' writer Parameter (Kang Hyerim)'s work 'Special Personnel Grievance Handling TF Team' won the grand prize. This fantasy story, which deals with a grievance handling team resolving the cases of souls who cannot leave the company even after death, was praised for its unique setting and well-structured narrative, combining both artistic quality and popular appeal.

At the awards ceremony held on the 24th at the Kyobo Book Centre Studio in Gwanghwamun, writer Parameter said, "I wanted to write a story that could offer some comfort and empathy regarding the hardships and grievances experienced by office workers within the organization called a company. Moving forward, I want to write stories that are entertaining yet not dark, and that provide solace to someone," expressing her thoughts.

Award recipient parameter writer (left) and Jo Ji-hyun, Executive Director of Kyobo Bookstore DBS Platform Business Division [Photo by Kyobo Bookstore]

The Excellence Award was given to three works: 'Space Opera,' 'Moon Walker: Exiles to the Moon,' and 'The Town Without an Address.' Additionally, eight other works were selected for the Merit Award.

The total prize money amounts to 100 million KRW. After one-on-one mentoring with experts, the works will be published first as e-books, followed by individual reviews for print publication and video adaptation.

Kim Jeonggyeom, head of the DBS Platform Business Team at Kyobo Book Centre, who was in charge of the contest, said, "First, I would like to thank everyone for the enthusiastic interest shown in the 1st Search-Light Contest. We will provide multifaceted support to ensure that the discovered works can be developed into various forms such as publishing, webtoons, and videos. We plan to continue holding various events and contests to expand the web novel market, which is still concentrated in specific genres, and to provide a stable creative environment for writers."

The Search-Light Contest was hosted and organized by Kyobo Book Centre and sponsored by the investment and distribution company Merry Christmas Co., Ltd. It was planned to discover works with high potential for expansion into secondary content such as webtoons and videos (dramas, movies, etc.).

Starting from the 6th of next month, the 'Writing Income Contest' will follow. Unlike previous contests, it features monthly official serialization fees paid to winning writers until the completion of their works.