K-Book Trends -

Search word : "May", Search result : 474

[TREND / TOPIC]

What the “Steady Seller Phenomenon” Means for the Book Market

Topic What the “Steady Seller Phenomenon” Means for the Book Market On books that have reached their 100th print 2024.07.01 The implication of books that hit the 100th print Kim Dong-Sik’s The Grey Man (Yoda Books) recently celebrated its 100th printing in the Korean book market. While the writer’s dramatic leap from a foundry worker to a best-selling writer has been spotlighted, what is perhaps most important is the internal narrative of the short stories contained within. This collection of 24 short stories was selected from the hundreds of short stories he posted to the horror forum of an online community, “Today’s Humor.” It is indeed a kaleidoscope of life’s short stories, sometimes hilarious, sometimes heartbreaking. Readers have responded so enthusiastically to the short story collection, which went into its 100th printing in 2017 - 7 years after it was first published, and there are many factors behind this. The factor include the dra...

VOL.72 / 2024.07

[TREND / SPECIAL PROJECT]

Want to Know More About Korean Architecture?

Special Project [English Books in Korea ②] Want to Know More About Korean Architecture? 2024.07.01 I start this article with the confession that writing an introduction to English books on Korean architecture is perhaps even more challenging than writing an English book on Korean architecture itself, primarily because the absolute number of such books is so small. Considering the fact that the Korean architecture market is not small at all, that many of the world’s leading architects have left their legacies in Korea, and that Korea has consistently participated in international architectural events such as the Venice Biennale, this is somewhat surprising. This is even more true when we consider that there are a significant number of people in the Korean architectural community who have had first-hand experience in other countries through studying or working abroad and are familiar with foreign languages. For a country that exports so many th...

VOL.72 / 2024.07

[TREND / TOPIC]

Development and Transformation of Korean Young Adult Fiction

Topic Development and Transformation of Korean Young Adult Fiction 2024.06.03 “Young Adult (YA)” is a keyword that can’t be left out when discussing Korean literature in recent years. In fact, “recent” might not be the right word. It was in 2021 when the first article on the topic of “young adult fiction” appeared in K-Book Trends, and Sohn Won-Pyung’s Almond (Dazzling Publishers), which was mentioned as a work that led the young adult market at that time, was published in 2017. However, the term “young adult” appears in the submission guidelines of new fiction contests, in the names and intentions of newly conceived novel series, and in the introductions of young adult SF or fantasy novels. As such, young adult fiction is expanding and changing at a remarkably rapid pace. This growth can be attributed to the steady improvement of Korean young adult fiction, the changes in general fiction, and readers’ enthusiasm for new genres. S...

VOL.71 / 2024.06

[TREND / BOOK TRIP]

In Search of a Garden Where Our Beautiful Korean Language Breathes

Book Trip [A Trip to Literary Museums ②] In Search of a Garden Where Our BeautifulKorean Language Breathes Introducing Sonagi Village at Hwang Sun-won, Literary Housein Yangpyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do, and Beyond 2024.06.03 The works of Hwang Sun-Won have a solid presence in Korean literature. The literary world he has built transcends time, genre, and ideology, naturally expressing the most Korean emotions. It was around 1952, when Korea was undergoing the Korean War, when his representative short story Rain Shower (read Sonagi in Korean) was released. However, it is difficult to recognize such a period from the portrayal of the two main characters in the novel. The only clue that connects the story to reality is the place name “Yangpyeong” that appears at the end. The thoughts that germinated in this place became the driving force for creating a literary space, and it led to new attempts to reinterpret the work in various ways.The Sonagi Village in the Hwa...

VOL.71 / 2024.06

[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.92 / 2026.03

[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 / 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

[INFORMATION / AGENCY LIST]

Agency List

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

[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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VOL.92/2026.03

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