K-Book Trends -

Search word : "KOREA", Search result : 1,204

[TREND / TOPIC]

How Did the “Best Book Design From All Over the World” Begin?

Topic How Did the “Best Book Design From All Over the World” Begin? Books selected in Korea in 2024 2024.05.07 Launched in 1963 by the German Stiftung Buchkunst, the “Best Book Design From All Over the World” is a world-renowned competition that is now co-organized with the Leipziger Buchmesse. Leipziger Buchmesse is the earliest international book fair held every year. Leipzig, the background of Martin Luther’s debates on reformation, has been a center of book printing, publishing, and design since medieval times, as well as being home to numerous publishing houses. The competition is set in this historical context.In Korea, the Korean Publishers Association has been holding a contest for Korean books, and the selected books have been submitted to the contest in Germany. Consequently, Uhm Yoo-Jung’s collection, FEUILLES (Leaves), published by Media Bus in 2021, won the prize for the first time in Korea, followed by Workroom Press’s Samu...

VOL.70 / 2024.05

[TREND / SPECIAL PROJECT]

New-nostalgia, the 1990s Sought in the 2020s

Special Project [Book × New-nostalgia] New-nostalgia, the 1990s Sought in the 2020s 2024.05.07 By their very nature, books are vessels of knowledge encompassing all fields. Endless topics can be written about depending on the material and message. In the [Book × _____ ] series, experts recommend Korean books in their respective fields that you’ve been curious about but had trouble discovering more about. Now, let’s jump into the infinite world of books through the collaboration of books with various fields. Why are the 2020s bringing back the 1990s? The past ages do not just recede from the present over time. Some events from the past have become the underlying framework for the present. The 2020s have been through the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s, and have embraced each of them one after the other. The 1990s, in particular, are often invoked in the 2020s when it comes to p...

VOL.70 / 2024.05

[TREND / EXPORT CASE]

The Bird That Drinks Tears, Flying Around the World

Export Case The Bird That Drinks Tears, Flying Around the World 2024.05.07 Sometimes, a project comes across your desk as an editor that immediately catches your eye. Maybe it’s the title, or the author, or the pitch that was written to suck you in. With The Bird That Drinks Tears (Minumsa Publishing), it was definitely the latter for me, specifically the idea of “the Korean Lord of the Rings.”Okay?that got my attention. Diving into the manuscript, then, I was blown away by the depth of the world and how fascinating the characters were. And yet, while Lee Young-do is certainly a Tolkien in breadth and spirit, he’s also distinctly Korean in the best possible way. This wasn’t just another Western fantasy retread, but a purely new read for me, and that was exciting. The “if you haven’t read it before, it’s new to you” vibe was strong, and I found myself sucked into the narrative. Korean edition o...

VOL.70 / 2024.05

[INFORMATION / K-BOOK MAP]

4 Must-Visit Publisher Book Cafes in Seogyo-dong for Editors

K-Book Map 4 Must-Visit Publisher Book Cafes in Seogyo-dong for Editors 2026.02 Here are four publisher-run book cafes tucked away in the alleys of Seogyo-dong, brimming with intellectual inspiration, that serve as must-visit destinations for avid readers and editors alike. Moonji Salon @Moonji Salon Instagram Overview There are certain places that are absolute must-visits for avid readers and editors alike. These are the publisher-run book cafes tucked away in the alleys of Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu—the district with the highest concentration of publishing houses in Korea—a neighborhood brimming with intellectual inspiration. Here, we introduce four recommended book cafes operated ...

VOL.91 / 2026.02

[INFORMATION / AGENCY LIST]

Agency List

Agency List Agency List 2026.03 Abba Communication Ltd. Launched as a translation and interpretation agency in 204, Abba Communication (Abba here after) now also acts as a copyright agency. Abba supports young Korean publishers who are aspiring to build experiences in moving on to the international market, providing consultation on the way until they become global. Abba’s special forte is its excellent professional team with expertise in re-writing and/or editing synopses and introductions into texts both competitive and persuasive. Other services Abba provides include translating original materials and creating promotional texts. Focused Subjects LiberalArts : Biography, Management, Negotiation &n...

VOL.91 / 2026.02

[TREND / BOOK TRIP]

The Footprints of Two Writers Who Sang of Hope in Times of Despair

Book Trip [A Trip to Literary Museums ①] The Footprints of Two WritersWho Sang of Hope in Times of Despair Andong-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do: Kwon Jeong-Saeng Fairy Tale Museumand Yi Yuk-Sa Literary Museum 2024.05.07 Literary museums are not just places to display writers’ books and materials, but also places that create new content based on those materials and spread writers’ spirits to future generations. As they preserve the past yet always have new stories to tell, it is always a thrill when going to a new literary museum, curious to see what stories they will tell. This is why many book lovers and even general travelers search for literary museums in their travels and take the time to visit them.Andong, Gyeongsangbuk-do, the destination of this month’s “Book Trip,” is a city of traditional Korean culture and is often referred to as the “spiritual capital of Korea.” Living up to its name, Andong is famous for being home to prominent schol...

VOL.70 / 2024.05

[TREND / ONE-LINER QUOTES]

Two Ways to Read Spring in April

One-Liner Quotes Two Ways to Read Spring in April Columnist’s Pick 2024.05.07 Former journalist for Elle and Esquire, Min Yong-Jun is a freelance columnist, appearing on TV, lecturing, and writing. He wrote Yesterday’s Film, Today’s Director, and Tomorrow’s Conversation (Zene Scene), a collection of interviews he had with 13 directors. The seasons are always honest and dutiful - they do what they must when the time comes, without hesitation. In spring, it sows what it has to, blooms what it has to, and declares another cycle of seasons to begin again. Spring is always an invigorating and promising season, as if giving those who have missed the start of a new year a second chance to get back on the starting line. Although we often say that spring begins in March, it is usually April when we can truly enjoy it. So, I have selected 2 books that I think are perfect for April, when spring fully blooms. ...

VOL.70 / 2024.05

[TREND / KNOWLEDGE]

Today’s Local Bookstores Seen Through Data on Independent Bookstores in Korea

Knowledge Today’s Local Bookstores Seen Through Dataon Independent Bookstores in Korea A service for non-readers: a map of local bookstores 2024.05.07 Independent bookstores, each unique in its own way, are significant in that they create new cultures and book ecosystems. There is a platform that collects data on these independent bookstores and shares their locations, activities, and stories with readers online and offline ? it is “Bookshopmap,” a neighborhood bookstore map, which started in 2015. In this article, focusing on Bookshopmap, we will look at how the service started, how it works, and how it differs from traditional bookstores. We will also take a look at the changing trends of independent bookstores in Korea based on data statistics from the past 8 years, from 2015 to 2023. ...

VOL.70 / 2024.05

[INFORMATION / 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...

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[INFORMATION / BEST SELLERS]

Heading into 2026: Comparing the Combined

Best Sellers Heading into 2026: Comparing the Combined Bestseller Lists of Korea’s Three Major Online Bookstoresfor the 2nd week of December, 2025 2026.01.05 There is a saying that time does not simply pass?it accumulates. Even when daily routines feel repetitive or unremarkable, the experiences we encounter continue to pile up, quietly shaping our lives. For those who look back on 2025 with a hint of regret, it offers comfort; for those who have been running without pause, it feels like encouragement. Throughout 2025, the publishing world moved forward through the quiet, persistent labor of those who worked to create each book, building their efforts piece by piece. Looking ahead to 2026 with the hope that this dedication will yield even greater rewards, let’s take a look at the bestseller list for the last month of 2025.Topping the bestsellers in the final month of 2025 was Minimal Korean History, an introductory and condensed guide to t...

VOL.90 / 2026.01

VOL.92/2026.03

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