K-Book Trends -

Search word : "Investment", Search result : 76

[TREND / KNOWLEDGE]

The Present and Future of Korean Non-Fiction Publishing

Knowledge The Present and Future of Korean Non-Fiction Publishing 2026.05 Non-fiction has long played a pivotal role in the publishing market as both a knowledge infrastructure and a forum for public discourse, yet its status has recently begun to falter. Although the number of new titles published remains steady on the surface, the decline in actual sales volume and market share indicates that the non-fiction market is weakening from within. This phenomenon is difficult to explain solely by a decrease in the reading population or a shift away from traditional media. Rather, it should be viewed as a structural inflection point occurring in the process of fundamentally reorganizing the systems of knowledge production, distribution, and consumption due to accelerated digital transformation (DX). Ultimately, the stagnation of non-fiction symbolizes a paradigm shift in the publishin...

VOL.94 / 2026.05

[TREND / TOPIC]

Not just comfort and empathy, but anxiety and fear: Pay Attention to K-Horror

Topic Not just comfort and empathy, but anxiety and fear: Pay Attention to K-Horror 2026.03 Healing and Zombies In the Bag For the past few years, the mainstream of Korean genre literature has undeniably been "healing." Healing fantasy, set in familiar spaces such as convenience stores, bookstores, and antique shops, offered solace to Korean readers weary of individualism. Messages like "You are not alone in your struggles" and "We are looking toward the light together" were sweet and comforting. However, where there is bright light, there are also deep shadows. No matter how much we comfort one another, we remain beings who must ultimately compete alone in a cold, harsh reality. To make matters worse, the pandemic that struck like a tidal wave...

VOL.92 / 2026.03

[TREND / KNOWLEDGE]

Book Funding: Getting Closer to Readers

Knowledge Book Funding: Getting Closer to Readers 2026.03 The landscape of the Korean book market has shifted significantly since the online bookstore Aladin launched its Book Fund in 2018. This crowdfunding style platform was designed specifically for the pre-promotion of new titles. By 2024, all three major online bookstores in Korea had integrated their own dedicated funding systems. This marketing strategy has now become so mainstream that it is considered a standard step for any Korean publisher preparing to release a new book. Aladin Book Fund campaign example for If We Can’t Go at the Speed of Light. The funding systems of online bookstores offer a closer connection with readers than specialized crowdfunding platforms. Once the funding period ends and ge...

VOL.92 / 2026.03

[TREND / SPECIAL PROJECT]

Notable Literary Works Selected by Critics Across Generations - Differences and Shared Sympathy in Generational Book Preferences -

Special Project Notable Literary Works Selected by Critics Across Generations - Differences and Shared Sympathy inGenerational Book Preferences - 2026.02 This Special Project introduces six literary works highlighted by critics across generations. Issues such as unknown worlds, individuals gazing into anxiety, the disintegration of the ideal subject, the reconstruction of care and family models, and the social sensibilities of 21st-century youth stand out. Should we stay in this problematic reality, run away, become immersed, or solve it? There is no right answer. The authors are messengers,conveying these situations and processes through the minute temperature of language. The 20s Perspective - Sollim Lee, Cultural Critic ...

VOL.91 / 2026.02

[TREND / TOPIC]

Korean Publishing Market Trends in 2025 and Outlook for 2026

Topic Korean Publishing Market Trends in 2025 and Outlook for 2026 2026.01.05 Trends in 2025: A Year of Digital Transformation and Practical, Stability-Oriented Content In 2025, Korea’s publishing market underwent noticeable shifts in the ways readers discovered, selected, and consumed books, as digital transformation accelerated and social and economic uncertainty deepened. On the surface, the overall market size appeared relatively stable. Beneath that stability, however, structural changes became increasingly clear: the number of new titles grew significantly, while the average print run per title declined. As supply expanded, the actual market reach secured by individual titles continued to narrow. These changes were further shaped by the expansion of generative AI (Artificial Intelligence) and intensified competition from OTT (Over-the-Top) platforms. Together, t...

VOL.90 / 2026.01

[TREND / ONE-LINER QUOTES]

Wisdom That Cuts to the Heart of Money

One-Liner Quotes Wisdom That Cuts to the Heart of Money A banker’s pick 2025.09.04 Son Woo-Jung, Deputy Manager of the Channel Strategy Department at KEB Bank, oversees the “Culture Bank” project, which transforms bank branches into cultural spaces open to the local community. He plans and manages libraries, exhibitions, lectures, performances, customer gatherings, and a wide range of other cultural content and spaces, exploring how finance can enrich community life. Following is his reflection?through the books he recommends in this article?on life, work, and money, and on how to maintain balance among them. The deeper I go into finance, the more I realize that everything rests on the basics. And, that foundation is how we view money. When we become trapped in the wrong beliefs, we might shut out other possibilities and end up repeating the s...

VOL.86 / 2025.09

[TREND / TOPIC]

The Reality and Prospects of K-Mystery Literature

Topic The Reality and Prospects of K-Mystery Literature 2025.08.04 The global popularity of Korean content has spread beyond popular music (K-POP), dramas, and movies to include literature. However, Korean mystery literature is a relatively minor and lesser-known area. Yet, with the increasing attention and translations of Korean crime and mystery novels abroad, there have been comments that Korean mystery literature could be the “next Scandi Noir.” 1) In fact, Korean mysteries have been gaining prominence on the international stage, with Yun Ko-Eun’s The Disaster Tourist (Minumsa Publishing) winning the Dagger Award for Translation by the Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) in the UK in 2021. This article aims to shed light on the current state and potential of Korean mystery literature in a global context. I will look at the characteristics of works that incorporate Korean sentiment and social background, as well as notable authors. ...

VOL.85 / 2025.08

[TREND / EXPORT CASE]

The “Anxiety of Youth” Crosses National Borders

Export Case The “Anxiety of Youth” Crosses National Borders 2025.05.07 What defines independent publishing? As publishing formats diversify and formerly “self-published authors” begin to compete by starting their own publishing houses, the question of what constitutes independent publishing has become a hot topic. In the absence of objective indicators, independent publisher Balcony defines independent publishing as follows: publishing that can entice readers with its own narrative without large-scale capital investment. In this sense, Yeon Jeong’s Tomorrow’s Sun Will Rise, But What About Tonight? can be considered one of the clear success stories of independent publishing.Before it was published by Balcony in 2020, Tomorrow’s Sun Will Rise, But What About Tonight? was an independent publication that Yeon Jeong wrote as a palm-sized book and distributed on a small scale. The publisher at Balcony discovered the book, which had been dis...

VOL.82 / 2025.05

[TREND / TOPIC]

Korean Readers’ Picks in the First Half of 2024

Topic Korean Readers’ Picks in the First Half of 2024 2024.09.02 According to the “2023 National Reading Survey” announced by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism in Korea, the overall reading rate was observed to be 43.0%, the lowest since the survey was initiated in 1994. This means that 6 out of 10 adults don’t even read a single e-book or audiobook, let alone a paper book. The shrinking of the reading population, which forms the foundation for the publishing market, and the aging population have been issues in Korea for quite a long time. However, it was indeed a shocking figure for the publishing industry as it expected to see a steady increase in the reading population since it enjoyed a boom during the pandemic compared to other industries.In the first half of the year, the reduction in newly published titles, driven by a contracting publishing market, alongside the enduring popularity of long-time bestsellers, played a si...

VOL.74 / 2024.09

[INFORMATION / BEST SELLERS]

New Spring, Books Worth Your Attention

Best Sellers New Spring, Books Worth Your Attention 2026.03 As we approach the spring of 2026, the bestseller charts for the second week of February once again demonstrated the enduring power of fiction, with novels claiming six of the top ten spots. For our 2026 feature, we move beyond the digital sphere to focus on brick-and-mortar bookstores, where readers can personally browse the shelves, feel the texture of the printed type, and choose their books through a physical encounter. In South Korea, major franchises occupy the majority of the physical bookstore market. Currently, four main franchises—Kyobo Book Centre, Youngpoong Bookstore, Jongno Books, and Arc N Book—are in competition. We intend to examine the top ten books across these locations, starting with Kyobo Book Centre, which holds the largest number of branches, followed by Y...

VOL.92 / 2026.03

VOL.94/2026.05

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