Doosan Encyclopedia: South Korea's Premier Reference Work
The Doosan Encyclopedia (Korean: 두산세계대백과사전) stands as one of the most significant and comprehensive reference works in South Korea. Published by Doosan Donga, this extensive resource provides a vast repository of knowledge in the Korean language, evolving from a traditional print collection into a dominant digital presence.
Origins and Evolution
The foundation of the Doosan Encyclopedia lies in the Dong-A Color Encyclopedia, a 30-volume hardbound set that first began publication in 1982 through Dong-A Publishing. The landscape of the publication changed in February 1985 when Dong-A Publishing merged into Doosan Donga, a subsidiary of the Doosan Group.
Since its inception, the encyclopedia has maintained its status as a major academic and general-interest pillar in South Korea, bridging the gap between traditional print scholarship and the modern digital era.
[ไม่มีภาพประกอบ]The Digital Transition: From EnCyber to doopedia
As the internet transformed how information is consumed, the Doosan Encyclopedia transitioned into the digital realm. This evolution occurred in two primary stages: EnCyber and doopedia.
The EnCyber Era
The online version was originally launched as EnCyber, a name created by blending the words "Encyclopedia" and "Cyber." The goal of the trademark was to establish a center of "living knowledge." EnCyber became a cornerstone of the South Korean internet, providing free content through major portals like Naver.
The partnership with Naver was particularly influential; the popularity of EnCyber contributed significantly to Naver's rise as the leading search engine in South Korea. This relationship was solidified in 2003 when Naver entered into an exclusive contract with Doosan Donga, paying multi-billion won in royalties for the content.
The Transition to doopedia
On November 1, 2010, the digital platform was rebranded as doopedia, a portmanteau combining "Doosan" and "encyclopedia." This platform continued to expand its reach and depth. By November 7, 2013, doopedia hosted 463,953 items, significantly outpacing the Korean Wikipedia, which had 252,830 articles at that same time.
[ไม่มีภาพประกอบ]Key Facts
- Publisher: Doosan Donga (a subsidiary of Doosan Group).
- Original Format: 30 hardbound volumes first published in 1982.
- Digital Names: Previously known as EnCyber; currently known as doopedia.
- Scale: Contained 463,953 items as of November 2013.
- Market Impact: Helped propel Naver to the top of the South Korean search engine market.
- Language: Korean.
Summary of Publication Details
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Korean Name | 두산세계대백과사전 (Dusan segye daebaekgwasajeon) |
| Publication Date | 1982–present |
| Original Volume Count | 30 Volumes |
| Digital Website | www.doopedia.co.kr |
| Primary Media Type | Hardbound and Digital |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the relationship between the Doosan Encyclopedia and doopedia?
doopedia is the current name of the digital version of the Doosan Encyclopedia. It was renamed from EnCyber to doopedia on November 1, 2010.
How did the Doosan Encyclopedia influence the South Korean search engine market?
The digital version, EnCyber, provided free content to the portal Naver. This partnership helped Naver become the top search engine in South Korea, leading to a multi-billion won royalty agreement in 2003.
Who originally published the encyclopedia?
It was originally published by Dong-A Publishing as the Dong-A Color Encyclopedia in 1982, before Dong-A Publishing merged into Doosan Donga in 1985.
How does the size of doopedia compare to Korean Wikipedia?
As of November 7, 2013, doopedia was significantly larger, with 463,953 items compared to the 252,830 articles found in the Korean Wikipedia at that time.