K-Book Trends -

Search word : "Seoul International Book Fair", Search result : 76

[TREND / KNOWLEDGE]

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 / EXPORT CASE]

The Global Domino Effect of Korean Publishing in 2025 - Korean Books Spreading Region by Region

Export Case The Global Domino Effect of Korean Publishing in 2025 - Korean Books Spreading Region by Region 2026.02 About Clayhouse Clayhouse is a publishing house that will celebrate its 5th anniversary in 2026, and under the catchphrase "A world of practical warmth that works in everyday life," it creates books that offer rest of weary minds. The phrase "Into the feel-good universe," found on the front flap of every book, serves as the publisher’s guiding compass. It defines the identity of Clayhouse, which has garnered global love through bestsellers such as Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop, Rainbow Market, and I Decided to Live as Me. Three-quarters of its original titles have been sold internationally.In just four years, Clayhouse has secured over 120 ...

VOL.91 / 2026.02

[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]

The Secret Weapon: How Data Connects Global Publishing

Export Case The Secret Weapon: How Data Connects Global Publishing 2025.12.01 LEE’s Literary Agency, founded in 2008 in Taiwan, is a rights agency specializing in cross-border licensing across Asia and beyond. It represents both Asian and international publishers, focusing on building data-driven connections between markets through translation rights and global collaboration. From the very beginning, LEE’s Literary Agency aimed not merely to bring foreign copyrights into Taiwan, but to help publishers across markets recognize and engage with one another. Our very first project was representing an American author and closing 17 deals within 1 year ? including one with a major US publisher. At the time, I had no idea that this experience would one day allow me to witness the shifting map of the Asian publishing landscape. Insights into the global publishing market Through countless cross-border collaborations and negotiations over the past yea...

VOL.89 / 2025.12

[TREND / KNOWLEDGE]

The Frontline of K-Book Copyright Exports: Ten Years of the “Visiting Korean Book Fair”

Knowledge The Frontline of K-Book Copyright Exports:Ten Years of the “Visiting Korean Book Fair” 2025.11.03 The “Visiting Korean Book Fair (찾아가는 도서전)” is a project jointly hosted and organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism (MCST) and the Publication Industry Promotion Agency of Korea (KPIPA) to reinforce the global competitiveness of Korean publishing content and promote the export of publications. Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, the “Visiting Korean Book Fair” has participated in book fairs around the world, supporting copyright consultations and publication contracts for Korean literature, and serving as a stepping stone for the ongoing globalization of K-Literature. This article reflects on the past ten years of the “Visiting Korean Book Fair” - its activities and the significance it has built over the decade. The Year 2025: Accelerating the advancement of Korean books into North Ame...

VOL.88 / 2025.11

[TREND / TOPIC]

Korean Literature: From Page to Screen

Topic Korean Literature: From Page to Screen 2025.09.04 In the Korean film industry, the label “based on a novel” is no longer unusual. Over the past decade, films adapted from literary works have steadily reached theaters, making secondary rights sales a significant revenue stream for publishers. For filmmakers, novels are an attractive source material because they offer strong narratives and existing recognition, all within the constraints of limited budgets. As a result, adaptations have not only drawn audiences to cinemas but also reignited book sales, often sending older titles back up the bestseller lists. Since the success of adaptations such as Gong Ji-Young’s The Crucible (Changbi Publishers) and Kim Ryeo-Ryeong’s Wandeuk (Changbi Publishers), which achieved both commercial popularity and social impact, literary-based films are no longer regarded as “exceptional undertakings.” This month’s article reviews prominent examples from the last ten...

VOL.86 / 2025.09

[TREND / EXPORT CASE]

Paving the Way for Exports Through People-to-People Exchange

Export Case Paving the Way for Exports Through People-to-People Exchange The export case of Don’t Worry About Me 2025.09.04 Korean picture books have recently gained worldwide attention by winning international picture book awards. In 2022, illustrator Lee Suzy became the first Korean winner of the Hans Christian Andersen Award (HCAA). Her works were translated and published in Japan, Taiwan, and France. In 2020, Wave (BIR Publishing) was selected for Taiwan’s OpenBook Good Book Awards. In 2025, Borders (Bearbooks) by Gudol (writer) and Haerang (illustrator), and Mo Story (Atnoonbooks) by Choi Yeon-Ju became the first Korean works to win France’s Prix Sorci?res. Yet many outstanding Korean picture books remain unknown abroad. With 2025 designated as the “Year of the Picture Book” in Korea, this article examines an export case of the particular picture book Don’t Worry About Me (Bombyeott Publishing). How Don’t Worry About M...

VOL.86 / 2025.09

[TREND / KNOWLEDGE]

A Thriving Metamorphosis of Queer Literature

Knowledge A Thriving Metamorphosis of Queer Literature The growth and prospects of Korean queer literature 2025.09.04 Refreshing history: joining hands with feminism The queerness of Korean literature continues to reach new heights. Recent works published in literary magazines, almost without exception, embody a feminist consciousness and a queer-friendly stance. Novels that feature gay, lesbian, and transgender characters as central figures are also steadily on the rise. Of course, whether a work can be called “queer literature” simply because its characters are named and categorized as queer remains a question that requires ongoing reflection. Over the past ten years, however, the demographic composition of the literary world created by Korean literature has gradually shifted from cisgender heterosexuals to characters where queerness, disability, and feminism intersect. Given that the visibility of queer identities begins wit...

VOL.86 / 2025.09

[TREND / TOPIC]

My, Your, and Our ? Last Resort

Topic My, Your, and Our ? Last Resort The 2025 Seoul International Book Fair (SIBF) comes to a successful close 2025.07.07 View outside the 2025 SIBF “A festival for all book lovers.” The 2025 Seoul International Book Fair (SIBF) was held for 5 days from June 18 to 22. Marking the 67th anniversary this year, approximately 530 companies (430 Korean and 100 international) from 17 countries participated in the fair, presenting various programs, including themed and special exhibitions, book talks, and seminars. Approximately 150,000 people visited the fair. General tickets were sold out even during the pre-sale period. Following is my visit to the SIBF, which has become even more vibrant with the rise of the so-called “Text Hip” phenomenon. Gathered together by books, resonating with one another When you reach a dead end, the last resort comes to mind. “When you are struggling or feeling lonely, wha...

VOL.84 / 2025.07

[TREND / KNOWLEDGE]

Your Good Sense of Backing in Good Books

Knowledge Your Good Sense of Backing in Good Books Based on the example of online bookstore Aladin 2025.06.02 Why “Book Fund”? Online bookstore Aladin’s Book Fund program was first launched in 2012. The initial program allowed accounts to back up to 50,000 won to fund publishing projects. Publishers benefited by being able to raise money for pre-publication production costs, customers benefited by being able to earn up to 130% of their support back as bookstore credit if the book they funded became an overall bestseller, and booksellers benefited by being able to build an early audience of avid readers willing to support in upcoming titles. However, this design could not have a direct influence on the success of the book after publication, as it did not directly link the Book Fund to actual purchases of the book.In 2022, the web novel Return of the Blossoming Blade (Luff Media) was widely publicized in the media for its book f...

VOL.83 / 2025.06

VOL.92/2026.03

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