[Cover Story “Chingusai Newsletter” #1]

The History of the Chingusai Newsletter and the Complete Issue Index (1994–2018)

▲ Newsletter of Chodonghoe (January 25, 1994)

The Chingusai Newsletter was first launched on January 25, 1994 under the title “Chodonghoe Newsletter.” In March of the same year, as Chodonghoe split into Chingusai and Kkirikkiri (now the Korea Lesbian Counseling Center), the publication thereafter began to be issued under the title “Chingusai Newsletter.”

At the time of its founding, LGBTQ+ gatherings centered around PC-based communication networks and postal mailboxes such as P.O. Box 153 were just beginning to emerge. Reflecting this context, the newsletter carried advertisements for gay venues, alongside personal ads posted by gay men seeking lovers or partners.

In the late 1990s, with the emergence of gay internet websites such as Hwarang (now Ivan City), X-Zone, and TGNet, venue advertising and partner-seeking gradually shifted from newsletters to these online platforms. At the same time, LGBTQ+-related magazines and newsletters that had previously been published in print—most notably BUDDY (1998–2003)—rapidly transitioned into online webzines. Following this broader shift, the Chingusai Newsletter ceased print publication after its March 2001 issue and transitioned into a webzine format.

▲ Chingusai homepage (2002)

In the early 2000s, internet website database formats changed frequently, and during repeated site renewals and backup processes, the loss of posted materials was common. As a result, Chingusai webzine articles published between the second half of 2001 and the first half of 2003 are no longer extant. Some of Chingusai’s activities during this period can instead be partially traced through BoritjariBoritjaru (1998–2004), a magazine specializing in gay venues that was published around the same time.

Currently, the newsletter board on the Chingusai homepage hosts webzine articles published between July 2003 and October 2008. During this period, the webzine operated without a dedicated editorial team or fixed publication schedule. Full members freely uploaded domestic and international news articles or columns to boards such as “Foreign News,” “Gay Culture,” “Queer Movie,” and “Column.” The Secretariat also contributed signed columns, and the webzine functioned to some extent as an organizational hub for Chingusai members. Accordingly, article view counts and comment activity were notably active.

With the public launch of Facebook in 2006 and the founding of Twitter in the same year, the center of gravity of LGBTQ+ online communities gradually shifted toward these social media platforms in the late 2000s. As a result, functions previously handled by Chingusai—such as sharing foreign news and engaging in comment-based interaction—were increasingly transferred to SNSsocial media platforms. In response to this shift, Chingusai replaced the member-driven webzine model with a more structured online newsletter, featuring a fixed editorial team and regular publication cycle.

▲ Chingusai Newsletter, first issue with numbered publication (March 9, 2010)

The Chingusai Newsletter first published on March 9, 2010 marked the beginning of numbered issues. Most articles were written or contributed by editorial team members and full members, resembling the role previously played by the “Column” section of the webzine. Particularly significant was the decision, starting from the very first issue, to publicly disclose Chingusai’s monthly budget and financial settlement reports. This represented an organizational commitment to establishing financial transparency and institutional trust through the newsletter—a practice that continues to this day.

From 2014 onward, the Chingusai Newsletter became established around fixed sections such as “Activity Sketch,” “Interview,” “Column,” and “Book Review,” leading to a gradual enrichment of both format and article quality. Beginning that year, Chingusai also undertook a project to compile newsletter articles biennially into an offline printed edition. Furthermore, starting in 2017, articles directly related to organizational activities—such as those in the “Activity Sketch” section—were jointly planned and written with the Secretariat. From April of that year, the newsletter’s promotional web posters were changed from image-based formats to template-based designs, improving readability and strengthening accessibility for visually impaired readers.

With the publication of its 100th issue in October 2018, the Chingusai Newsletter has continued to document and disseminate not only Chingusai’s activities but also news and issues from within and beyond the gay community. Articles written by newsletter team members and Secretariat staff, along with external contributions, are promptly shared with the gay community through the newsletter. Some of these pieces have later been expanded into standalone publications or republished as articles in HuffPost Korea, reaching a wider audience. Since 1994, amid continuous transformations in community structures and media platforms, the Chingusai Newsletter has persistently reflected on and renewed its role. It pledges to continue observing the present realities of the gay community and society at large, and to respond attentively to ongoing change as a vital platform.

▲ Screenshot from the Chingusai Newsletter archive (2018)

Below is the complete index of Chingusai Newsletter articles from January 1994 through October 2018. You may search for articles using the search box located in the upper-right corner of the Chingusai homepage, or by using article titles from the index below as keywords in a Google search for quicker access. In addition, printed editions of the Chingusai Newsletter published prior to 2001 are available for consultation at the Chingusai office, subject to prior coordination with the Secretariat.

https://chingusai.net/xe/newsletter/561067 

Chingusai / Teoul (터울)