K-Book Trends -

Search word : "Fandom", Search result : 32

[TREND / TOPIC]

The Place Where BTS Sang... K-Novels Portraying Gwanghwamun, “The Most Iconic Part of Seoul”

Topic The Place Where BTS Sang... K-Novels Portraying Gwanghwamun, “The Most Iconic Part of Seoul” 2026.06 The Hub of Corporate Life and a Witness to History On March 27, 2026, the Gwanghwamun area in the heart of Seoul was undeniably a space of visual spectacle. BTS, the idol group with a global fandom, set up a stage here for their comeback performance, which was broadcast live worldwide by the global streaming platform Netflix. BTS Gwanghwamun Concert(Source: Yonhap Newshttps://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20260421116200371?section=search) Yet for a long time, Gwanghwamun has been a space of the written word for Koreans. Standing in the heart of Seoul, Gwanghwamun is the main gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace, the legal palace of the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1910). Its signboard—bearing the characters “光化門” written in the tradi...

VOL.95 / 2026.06

[TREND / TOPIC]

Opening a New Era of K-Content : The Culinary Class Wars Recipe Books

Topic Opening a New Era of K-Content: The Culinary Class Wars Recipe Books 2026.02 Netflix's hit variety program 〈Culinary Class Wars: Cooking Class War〉, which returned for Season 2 after 15 months, is continuing a level of success that rivals Season 1. It’s the unshakeable top show on Netflix Korea. Every Tuesday when new episodes drop, 〈Culinary Class Wars〉 takes over social media feeds.This intense fever for 〈Culinary Class Wars〉 has directly hit the publishing market. Following the release of 〈Culinary Class Wars〉 Season 2, recipe books previously published by the appearing chefs are "reverse-running" back onto the bestseller lists. 〈Culinary Class Wars〉 Season 2 Poster ...

VOL.91 / 2026.02

[TREND / KNOWLEDGE]

The Expansion of Korea’s Picture Book Market

Knowledge The Expansion of Korea’s Picture Book Market 2026.01.05 At some point, Korean picture books began making headlines. Korean authors are now frequent winners of Italy’s Bologna Ragazzi Award, one of the most prestigious prizes in the field. They have also produced award recipients of the Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB) Award?one of the world’s oldest international picture book festivals, launched in 1967?as well as Sweden’s Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, often described as the Nobel Prize in children’s literature; the Hans Christian Andersen Award, the highest honor bestowed upon authors and illustrators of children’s literature; and France’s most prestigious children’s literature prize, the Prix Sorci?res. Plus, countless Korean picture books have been exported to countries around the world, earning the love of readers internationally. Most importantly, picture books have become central to Korea’s reading culture, ...

VOL.90 / 2026.01

[TREND / TOPIC]

Expanding the World of Books Through Book-Themed Merchandise

Topic Expanding the World of Books Through Book-Themed Merchandise 2025.12.01 The craze for book-themed merchandise At bookstores and book fairs across the country, what catches the eye as much as the books themselves these days is book-themed merchandise. From bookmarks, postcards, and stickers to keyrings, T-shirts, book covers, incense, and drip-bag coffee, objects orbiting around books have now become a form of publishing content in their own right. According to Kyobo Book Centre’s statistics, sales of reading accessories in 2024 rose by 28% compared to the previous year. The trend was evident at this year’s Seoul International Book Fair (SIBF), where nearly every publisher’s booth displayed merchandise beside their books, and readers purchased these items with enthusiasm equal to the books themselves.Some criticize this shift, arguing that merchandise is overshadowing books and accelerating the commercialization of publishing. However, the ph...

VOL.89 / 2025.12

[TREND / EXPORT CASE]

How Korean Books Are Conquering Russia: The Experience of MIF

Export Case How Korean Books Are Conquering Russia: The Experience of MIF 2025.06.02 In recent years, Korean literature has been steadily capturing the hearts of Russian readers. One of the advocates of K-literature in Russia is MIF Publishing House. In this article, we explore how MIF made the strategic decision to publish Korean books, the titles that have already resonated with readers, and what the future holds. Who We Are MIF Publishing is one of Russia’s largest independent publishing houses. Since 2005, we have been producing high-quality nonfiction for adults and children, including books on self-development, business, psychology, art, and science, as well as fiction for adults, young adults, and younger readers.Our backlist includes more than 5,000 titles, and we publish around 400 new books each year. Our authors range from bestselling international names to renowned Russian writers. We are active participants in the world’s leadin...

VOL.83 / 2025.06

[TREND / KNOWLEDGE]

Books Loved Across Generations: Korean Steady Sellers

Knowledge Books Loved Across Generations: Korean Steady Sellers 2025.04.07 Bestseller lists reflect the issues of the times and the interests of readers. You can get a glimpse into readers’ thoughts and interests by looking at why a book gained traction. On the other hand, steady sellers are not only reflective of the times, like bestsellers, but they have the power to transcend time. A steady seller refers to a book that goes beyond just being a trend, and has a long-lasting lifespan through the power of its story. There are many books that become overnight bestsellers simply because they are written by popular authors with a fandom, or because they are endorsed by influencers. However, steady sellers are the ones that stay with readers across time. These books have stood the test of time and are more than just a fad; they resonate with readers and deliver a deeper message about life. They are not just books published a long time ago, but books still bein...

VOL.81 / 2025.04

[TREND / KNOWLEDGE]

Korean Publishing Market’s Trends in 2024 and Outlook for 2025

Knowledge Korean Publishing Market’s Trends in 2024 and Outlook for 2025 2024.12.02 Trends in 2024: Questioning life, fandoms, and Nobel Prize in Literature Philosophy and psychology books have dominated the Korean publishing market, with Reading Schopenhauer at Forty (Uknowbooks) topping the overall bestseller list through August. Also, 11 of the 30 bestselling fiction titles in the first half of the year were “rebound” titles, meaning they were published more than 10 years ago. In addition, the nonfiction category returned to growth after 4 years of decline, and the cases of books becoming bestsellers after being recommended by celebrities increased.Reading Schopenhauer at Forty has continued to grow in popularity this year after being featured on a TV entertainment series last year. The autho...

VOL.77 / 2024.12

[TREND / KNOWLEDGE]

2023 Publishing Statistics & 2024 Publishing Market Outlook

Publishing Industry 2023 Trends in the Korean Publishing Market and 2024 Forecast 2024.01.02 2023 Trends: Growth in self-help, comics, and parenting books As the COVID-19 pandemic turned endemic in the spring of 2023, travel books saw a resurgence in popularity. The popularity of anime such as Slam Dunk has led to increased sales of manga, and popular YouTubers have joined the publishing market using manga characters. In addition, books by popular writers for grown-up readers, such as physicist Kim Sang-Wook, have been transformed into children’s educational comics. * K-Book Trends Vol. 42 ? Go to the interview of writer Kim Sang-Wook In addition, despite recording the world’s lowest birth rate, the popularity of books on raising children in Korea has increased. While the market for marriage,...

VOL.66 / 2024.01

[INFORMATION / NEW BOOKS]

What If You Encountered Your Own Clone One Day?

New Books What If You Encountered Your Own Clone One Day? 2026.05 Can Hate Be Replicated?, Yoon, Hye-seong, 2026. Yoon, Hye-seong’s debut novel, Can Hate Be Replicated?, has been released as part of the "Short Series" by Safe House (Anjeongaok), a publisher specializing in genre fiction. Safe House is a production studio that creates and distributes stories for "fandoms" of genres such as SF, fantasy, mystery, horror, and romance. Author Yoon previously co-wrote the script for the K-drama 〈The Dream Life of Mr. Kim〉. While that drama offered a realistic and satirical portrayal of the lives of Korean office workers, Can Hate Be Replicated? explores a deeply human story of alienation, conflict, and the eventual downfall of a couple facing extreme suffering. The novel is categorized as a "Gyeong-jangpyeon," a format that can be described as a novella—a medi...

VOL.94 / 2026.05

[INFORMATION / BEST SELLERS]

Which Foreign Books Did Korean Readers Choose in 2025?

Best Sellers Which Foreign Books Did Korean Readers Choose in 2025? 2026.02 "Interest in Korean fiction" is an indispensable phrase when explaining recent publishing trends in Korea. Thanks to the halo effect of Han Kang's Nobel Prize in Literature win in 2024, Korean novels swept the top spots on the comprehensive bestseller lists last year. The slump in non-fiction books, driven by the commercialization of generative artificial intelligence (AI), also played a significant role. The prevailing view in the industry is that the surge in Korean fiction—and Korean literature at large—is a "butterfly effect" resulting from the contraction of the local non-fiction market, a sector traditionally dominated by renowned foreign authors rather than domestic ones. However, this situation may present a unique opportuni...

VOL.91 / 2026.02

VOL.95/2026.06

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