Mark.James Russell author page

Mark James Russell biography

Mark James Russell is a Canadian journalist and author whose work has focused extensively on Korean popular culture and entertainment. He began working as a journalist in Korea after arriving there in 1996. His articles have appeared in publications including The New York Times, Newsweek, The Wall Street Journal, Science, The Hollywood Reporter and Billboard. He has also worked on documentaries about Korean popular culture and history and founded the Korea Gig Guide music website.

Russell’s first book, Pop Goes Korea: Behind the Revolution in Movies, Music, and Internet Culture, was published by Stone Bridge Press. The nonfiction book examines the development of South Korea’s film, music, television, animation and online entertainment industries and the growth of the Korean Wave.

He followed this with K-Pop Now!: The Korean Music Revolution, published by Tuttle Publishing in 2014. The illustrated nonfiction book introduces K-pop and its development, with material on performers, groups and the Korean music industry.

Russell made his debut as a children’s novelist with Young-hee and the Pullocho, a middle-grade fantasy published by Tuttle Publishing. Drawing on Korean folklore, the novel follows Young-hee after her younger brother is kidnapped into a magical world, forcing her to search for the legendary pullocho plant. Tuttle lists the book for readers aged nine to twelve and published it on 12 May 2015.