In the ever-surprising world of Asterix collecting, remarkable discoveries continue to surface decades after the original publications. One such recent find comes from South Korea, where four Asterix albums were released in 1980 as special supplements to a popular youth magazine called Sonyeon Jungang (소년중앙), a title that translates to “Boy’s Central.”
The Magazine: Sonyeon Jungang
First published in January 1969 by Joongang Ilbo, one of South Korea’s leading newspapers, Sonyeon Jungang was a monthly magazine aimed at children and teenagers. Along with titles like Sae Sonyeon (“New Boy”) and Eokkaedongmu (“Shoulder to Shoulder”), it formed part of a trio of influential Korean children’s magazines during the 1970s and 1980s.
The magazine was known for its diverse content—ranging from educational articles and news features to serialized comics and illustrated fiction. A signature element of Sonyeon Jungang during its peak years was its envelope-style packaging, which typically included the main magazine along with smaller supplementary booklets, activity sheets, or occasionally, entire comic albums.
It was in this context that four Asterix titles were introduced to Korean readers—localized and published as bonus supplements, making them rare and largely unknown outside the country until now.
The Four Korean Asterix Albums
The albums identified so far include:
- 골마을의 대결투 (The Big Fight)
- 올림픽의 꼬마영웅 (Asterix at the Olympic Games)
- 로마에서 온 밀사 (The Roman Agent)
- 로마사람들과 신의 전당 (Mansions of the Gods)
These Korean editions were not published as stand-alone commercial releases but rather as special inserts—printed on lower-quality paper and likely in smaller quantities. Due to their ephemeral nature and packaging as magazine supplements, they were seldom preserved and are now extremely difficult to find.
Very little is currently known about the translators or publishers responsible for these editions, and detailed information about the print run or licensing agreement (if any) has yet to surface. Given that Joongang Ilbo had considerable influence at the time, it’s possible the editions were part of a larger effort to introduce popular European content to Korean youth, although confirmation of official licensing remains pending.
The covers
A Closer Look Coming Soon
We’re excited to share that one of our contributors has recently acquired a copy of one of these Korean Asterix albums. Details and a closer look at its layout and translation will be featured in an upcoming article here on asterixthegaul.com. Scans of two of the albums can be found at our page about the Korean language.
These editions offer a fascinating glimpse into how Asterix was received—and adapted—across cultures during a time when international comic distribution was still in its infancy in many parts of Asia. Their discovery adds a rare piece to the global puzzle of Asterix publishing history and highlights the enduring appeal of the indomitable Gaul, even in unexpected corners of the world.
Stay tuned for more updates and images as we continue to uncover the story behind these elusive Korean editions.
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