K-Book Trends -

Search word : "Festival", Search result : 107

[TREND / EXPORT CASE]

An Open Mind (The Export Journey of Author Lee Hee-joo’s Holy Boy)

Export Case An Open Mind(The Export Journey of Author Lee Hee-joo’s Holy Boy) 2026.08 Cover of Holy Boy When I first heard the news that the overseas rights contract for Holy Boy had been signed, I felt both glad and deeply conflicted. Set in the 1990s in the fictional city of Eungnang, Holy Boy follows four women who kidnap a K-pop idol. Featuring female characters who pursue their desires without hesitation, the novel leaves readers with a strangely sticky and uncomfortable lingering taste rather than a sense of comfort. Luckily, there were readers in Korea who cherished the book. However, Korean titles that draw attention abroad tend to be works awarded prestigious literary prizes like Han Kang’s The Vegetarian, feminist literature in the vein of Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982, or healing fiction. Fitting none of these molds, I felt a heavy pressure over the book b...

VOL.97 / 2026.08

[TREND / KNOWLEDGE]

The Evolution and Growing Pains of the Seoul International Book Fair

Knowledge The Evolution and Growing Pains of the Seoul International Book Fair 2026.07 We live in an era where depressing indicators of an ongoing publishing recession and a declining reading population have become all too familiar. Paradoxically, however, the scene at the Seoul International Book Fair (SIBF) held every June, where people gather through books, is more vibrant and dynamic than ever. Even in the midsummer heat, the long lines of readers and the lively energy within the publishers’ booths never cease. It demonstrates that the inherent power of books as a medium remains entirely valid. The success of the SIBF in recent years has been nothing short of peerless. Since 2023, the book fair has gradually shed its traditional character as a mere market for...

VOL.96 / 2026.07

[TREND / ONE-LINER QUOTES]

Experience Seoul Anew with Seoul Playbook 365

One-Liner Quotes Experience Seoul Anew with Seoul Playbook 365 2026.04 Seoul Playbook 365: This city is a giant playground (Seoul Metropolitan Government, 2025) Play Seoul Your Way Seoul Playbook 365 is a book published by the Seoul Metropolitan Government. It is a guide designed to help everyone, both locals and foreigners, experience Seoul, the beloved capital of the Republic of Korea, in a brand-new way. The book recommends exploring Seoul based on four distinct preferences: those seeking Energy, those looking for Inspiration, those who prioritize Fun, and finally, those pursuing Connection through meeting people. For those looking to recharge their Energy, the book suggests everything from the 〈Seoul Runners Festival〉 to the 〈Hangang Gym〉, the 〈Hangang Triathlon Festival〉, and the 〈Car-Free Jamsugyo ...

VOL.93 / 2026.04

[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 / KNOWLEDGE]

Models for Supporting Connections between Local Bookstores and Libraries

Knowledge Models for Supporting Connectionsbetween Local Bookstores and Libraries 2025.10.02 The publishing market is said to be facing increasing difficulties day by day. The most fundamental problem is the decline in the reading rate - in other words, the shrinking number of readers. However, rather than lamenting the decrease in readers, now is the time to make efforts to sustain and expand the readership. Then, what are the things that move most closely with readers for the promotion of reading? Libraries and local bookstores. According to the Value-Added Tax Act Article 8 of the Publishing Industry Promotion Act, a local bookstore refers to a bookstore that registers as a retail business for books and is operated by a small or medium-sized enterprise in accordance with Article 2 of the Framework Act on Small and Medium Enterprises. In this article, however, the term “local bookstore” encompasses independent bookstores, curated bookstores, and concept...

VOL.87 / 2025.10

[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 / 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 / KNOWLEDGE]

Preview of the Jeonju International Picture Book Fair & 2025 K-Book Market in Seoul

Knowledge Preview of the Jeonju International Picture Book Fair& 2025 K-Book Market in Seoul 2025.05.07 From a picture book festival in Jeonju to a global copyright market in Seoul!The world’s eyes are on K-books! Here are two exciting events for picture book lovers and global publishers alike. The 4th Jeonju International Picture Book Fair Period: May 29-June 29, 2025 Venue: Factory of Contemporary Art in Palbok and Wansan Library in Jeonju Content: - Various exhibitions, conferences, and lectures, including original art exhibitions by Korean and international picture book authors - Exhibitions and sales of illustrations and picture books at art markets, book markets, and more - Experi...

VOL.82 / 2025.05

[TREND / EXPORT CASE]

Cultural Empathy Blossoms in Japan: Korean Literature

Export Case Cultural Empathy Blossoms in Japan: Korean Literature Shueisha’s story of the popularity and publication of Korean literature 2025.04.07 This article is written in Japanese. The original Japanese text is also included at the bottom of the article. Shueisha (集英社) is a general publishing company founded in 1926. It has a wide range of publishing titles and businesses. It is particularly well known for teen and young adult comics, girls’ comics, and fashion magazines, including the Weekly Sh?nen Jump. In addition, it is active in publishing literary journals and novels. In the field of overseas literature, the company publishes books from various countries based on the belief that “We want to introduce good books from all over the world to our readers.” Among them, Korean literature has been gaining more and more attention in recent years. Starting with Park Min-Gyu’s Castella (Munhakdongne Publishin...

VOL.81 / 2025.04

[TREND / TOPIC]

The Power of K-Readers Over K-Books

Topic The Power of K-Readers Over K-Books A Report from the 1st Busan International Children’s Book Fair 2025.01.06 The banner of the 2024 Busan International Children’s Book Fair An international children’s book fair in Busan, Korea? On November 28, the 1st Busan International Children’s Book Fair kicked off at BEXCO in Busan. As the first international children’s book fair to be held in Korea, it was themed on the imaginary land of Laputa, the floating kingdom in the sky that Gulliver traveled to in Gulliver’s Travels. The book fair attracted 193 exhibitors and 118 authors and speakers from 16 countries, including domestic and international publishers and organizations specializing in children’s books. Also, more than 150 side programs took place. All beginnings are both exciting and nerve-wracking. The fact that an international children’s book fair, symbolized by Bolo...

VOL.78 / 2025.01

VOL.98/2026.09

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