The Zombie Detective of Gyeongseong (The Gyeongseong Detective Series) by Jaesung kim

Originally published in Korea in 2015 — years before Korean historical creature horror became a global phenomenon. This groundbreaking novel was a finalist in the prestigious Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA) Storytelling Contest (2014), competing for the 100 million won ($85,000) grand prize. Gyeongseong, 1932. Korea groans under Japanese colonial rule, and in the shadows of the occupied capital, a sinister cult promises what no one else can: eternal life. When freelance journalist Kim San's father vanishes after joining the mysterious Baekbaekgyo cult, Kim San's desperate search leads him to the doorstep of Gyeongseong's most eccentric figure: Min Chiwoo, a brilliant dentist by day and detective by night. Known throughout the city as the "Zombie Detective" for his deathly pallor and unsettling demeanor, Min Chiwoo sees what others cannot. And what he sees in Gyeongseong's darkest corners defies all reason. Bodies are appearing along Cheonggyecheon stream, drained of blood and marked with strange symbols. The colonial police dismiss the deaths as the work of a common murderer, but Min Chiwoo recognizes something far more terrifying: an ancient ritual, a resurrection gone wrong, and a prophet who has unlocked the secret to raising the dead. As Kim San and Min Chiwoo dig deeper into Baekbaekgyo's secrets, they uncover a conspiracy that reaches from the shanty towns of the poor to the highest levels of colonial society. The cult's charismatic leader, Jeon Yong-hae, is not merely a charlatan. He is a man who has conquered death itself, and his army of the undead grows with each passing night. To save his father and stop the horror spreading through Gyeongseong, Kim San must trust the Zombie Detective. But in a city where the dead walk and the living serve dark masters, trust may be the most dangerous choice of all. A gripping blend of historical mystery and supernatural horror, The Zombie Detective of Gyeongseong brings 1930s Korea to vivid life: a world of gas-lit streets, desperate poverty, colonial oppression, and terrors that lurk just beneath the surface of reality. For fans of Gyeongseong Creature, Kingdom, and classic noir detective fiction. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jaesung Kim is an award-winning Korean author and former President of the Korean Mystery Writers' Association (2017-2019). His literary achievements include the Mystery Award (2009), the Socheon Children's Literary Award (2014), and the Purun Children's Literary Award (2015). A practicing dentist based in San Diego, California, Kim bridges cultures and generations through stories that blend history, mystery, and imagination. Read more