Sajin Bipyung, Pre-publication issue, 1998, Image provided by ARKO Arts Archive
Sajin Bipyung was a quarterly journal of photographic criticism and theory, published in 1998 by Im Hyangja. Starting with its inaugural fall issue, 13 issues were published until 2003 by the publishing company Timespace in Chungmuro, Seoul. Kim Seunggon was an editor-in-chief, and Lee Kyungmin served as a member of the editorial committee. In the late 1990s, Korean photography culture developed substantively, and photography came to be considered as art. As a result, there was a call for the establishment of a self-sustaining critical culture in the photography industry. Therefore,
Sajin Bipyung can be evaluated as a professional magazine founded with the aim of creating a culture of criticism of Korean photography and actively introducing critical writing to establish a photography forum. It was composed of articles about special topics, exhibitions, introduction to artists’ portfolios, highlights discussing timely critical topics, interviews of artists and their works, ideas, and philosophy, exhibition reviews, and an information section. It also promoted and supported emerging critics by selecting the Photo Criticism Award every year and sought to promote photo criticism by publishing awarded works in the paper.
* Source: Multilingual Glossary of Korean Art. Korea Arts Management Service