ICEkunion
Encyclopedia
ICEkunion published South Korea
n manhwa
comics in the United States
. The firm's industry experience come from Studio ICE. Titles were licensed from manhwa
publishing companies that originally sold them in The Republic of Korea in the Korean language. According to an interview conducted by ICV2, the original creators themselves were involved in the adaptation process for the English-language markets.
ICEkunion's partners included Sigongsa
and Seoul Munhwasa, two of the four largest media empires in Korea.
In July 2007 it was announced through PW Comic Week that Ice Kunion was going to be completely absorbed by Yen Press
, Hatchette's new manga impress. Manga released through ICEkunion is expected to be picked up through the new company, but will not release until spring 2008. Manhwa bearing the ICEkunion logo will remain in stores, but following prints will bear the Yen Press logo.
ICEkunion's former editorial director Ju-Youn Lee (now Yen Press' senior editor) is quoted with saying "I asked them, would they like to join Yen Press with all the resources of Hachette behind the titles. They decided it would be a better chance to take risks with Hachette." Lee said that while the ICE Kunion co-venture was a good project, "We didn’t have any staff working in U.S., and we had our limits doing work from Korea."
Both of ICEkunion's listed websites no longer have any information listed, with www.icekunion.com now directing to a website that advertises free manhwa. Yen Press has said that the website will eventually redirect to the new Yen Press website.
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
n manhwa
Manhwa
Manhwa is the general Korean term for comics and print cartoons . Outside of Korea, the term usually refers specifically to South Korean comics. The term, along with manga, is a cognate of the Chinese manhua...
comics in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The firm's industry experience come from Studio ICE. Titles were licensed from manhwa
Manhwa
Manhwa is the general Korean term for comics and print cartoons . Outside of Korea, the term usually refers specifically to South Korean comics. The term, along with manga, is a cognate of the Chinese manhua...
publishing companies that originally sold them in The Republic of Korea in the Korean language. According to an interview conducted by ICV2, the original creators themselves were involved in the adaptation process for the English-language markets.
ICEkunion's partners included Sigongsa
Sigongsa
Sigongsa. Co., Ltd. is a Korean publishing media group that produces magazines, books, and digital contents. The group launched in 1989, and published a vast number of manhwa, working with the biggest North American comic book companies such as Tokyo Pop, Image Comics, and Dream Wave Productions...
and Seoul Munhwasa, two of the four largest media empires in Korea.
In July 2007 it was announced through PW Comic Week that Ice Kunion was going to be completely absorbed by Yen Press
Yen Press
Yen Press is the manga and graphic novel imprint of Hachette Book Group. In addition to their regular book releases, Yen Press produces a monthly anthology called Yen Plus. The company's varied list demonstrates an interest in publishing a wide variety of Japanese manga, Korean manhwa, and other...
, Hatchette's new manga impress. Manga released through ICEkunion is expected to be picked up through the new company, but will not release until spring 2008. Manhwa bearing the ICEkunion logo will remain in stores, but following prints will bear the Yen Press logo.
ICEkunion's former editorial director Ju-Youn Lee (now Yen Press' senior editor) is quoted with saying "I asked them, would they like to join Yen Press with all the resources of Hachette behind the titles. They decided it would be a better chance to take risks with Hachette." Lee said that while the ICE Kunion co-venture was a good project, "We didn’t have any staff working in U.S., and we had our limits doing work from Korea."
Both of ICEkunion's listed websites no longer have any information listed, with www.icekunion.com now directing to a website that advertises free manhwa. Yen Press has said that the website will eventually redirect to the new Yen Press website.
List of published titles
- The 11th Cat
- Angel DiaryAngel DiaryAngel Diary is a manhwa written by Lee Yoon-hee and drawn by Kara...
- The Antique Gift ShopThe Antique Gift ShopThe Antique Gift Shop is a manhwa created by Lee Eun. In the United States Yen Press publishes the series. The series is still being released in the U.S....
- Bring It On!Bring It On! (manhwa)Bring it on! is a romance manhwa by Baek Hye-kyung.-Plot:Schoolgirl Miha is the ultimate tomboy: she loves sports, is very competitive, and acts brashly. She was not always like this, as she was trained by her brother at an early age so she would scare off any would be suitors...
- ChocolatChocolat (manhwa)Chocolat is a manhwa written by Shin Ji-sang and illustrated by Geo. It is published by Sigongsa and distributed in the United States by Yen Press.-Plot:...
- Comic (manhwa)
- Cynical OrangeCynical OrangeCynical Orange is a manhwa created by Yoon JiUn.In the United States iceKunion originally held the license; Yen Press later took the license....
- Forest of Gray City
- Heavenly Executioner ChiwooHeavenly Executioner ChiwooHeavenly Executioner Chiwoo is a manhwa created by Park KangHo and Lee HaNa.In the United States iceKunion originally licensed the series; Yen Press later took the license. In the U.S. Volume 1 was released in November 2005, Volume 2 in February 2006, Volume 3 in May 2006, Volume 4 in May 2008, and...
- HissingHissing (manhwa)Hissing is a Korean manhwa series written and illustrated by Kang Eun-young. Originally serialized in the magazine Wink, Hissing was later released in 6 volumes between January 2004 and August 2005 by Seoul Cultural Publishers, Inc...
- Moon BoyMoon Boy (manhwa)Moon Boy is a Korean manhwa created by Korean author Lee Young-you. The series, as of June 2009 , is completed in Korea. It is complete with nine volumes. Eight of them have been translated and released in the United States and other parts of the world...
- One Thousand and One NightsOne Thousand and One Nights (manhwa)One Thousand and One Nights is a Korean manhwa written by Jeon Jin-seok and illustrated by Han Seung-he. It is a different take on the events of the original One Thousand and One Nights story, where the main character Sehara dresses up like a woman to take his sister's place in the sultan's harem...
- Real Lies