판춘문예

‘판춘문예’ is a certain type of writing style that is a trademark of the website called Nate Pann. Nate is an internet portal service that has been around since 1999. The portal had its short heyday in the mid-to-late 2000s, with its integration with Cyworld, a Korean social media service, and the success of Nate On, an instant messenger. Although Nate’s popularity has significantly declined in the 2010s, Pann, the forum part of the service has survived.

The word, ‘판춘문예’ is a combination of ‘Pann’ and ‘신춘문예.’ ‘신춘문예’ is a writing competition that is held annually by major newspapers. Traditionally, it has been considered a major way to become a professional writer. Aspiring writers would submit their short stories, poems, and dramas to the competition to get acknowledged by the literature community.

‘판춘문예’ is called ‘판춘문예’ because of the high literary value (/sarcasm) of the writing style that is popular on Nate Pann. On Pann, users share real-life anecdote that are oftentimes outrageous or controversial. Popular topics on Pann include conflicts with spouses, in-laws, or neighbors. A well-written ‘판춘문예’ would provoke a public reaction across the Korean internet. Some people believe that aspiring writers use Nate Pann to practice their writing and test their ability.