VOL.74/2024.09

2019 South Korea-China Publishing Copyright Exchanges Event

 

2019.12.09

 

Currently, in 2019, many South Korean publications can be seen throughout the world regardless of genre, including literature, books on hobbies, learning languages and children's books. Thanks to the efforts of many publishing experts and professionals inside and outside the country, South Korean publications have now started to become known overseas. However, exchanges came to a standstill after active engagement for many years with one country. This country was China. After political conflict arose between the two countries over the deployment of an anti-missile system called THAAD in South Korea in 2016, bilateral publication copyright deals were also affected. Three years after this issue presented itself, relationships were mended for the first time in three years at the “2019 South Korea-China Publishing Copyright Exchanges Event”.

 

 

One-on-One Business Matching Between South Korean, Chinese publishers

 

The “2019 South Korea-China Publishing Copyright Exchanges Event” was held in Seoul on Oct. 30. On the day of the event, one-on-one copyright consulting business matching sessions were held between Chinese and South Korean publishers. Fourteen publishing companies from China under China Publishing Group participated in the event, and 25 South Korean publishers took part. Major South Korean publishers who have consistently carried out work in other Asian markets including Taiwan and Thailand like Woongjin Thinkbig, Hakgobang, Darakwon and Mirae N were at the event, along with independent publishers UU Press and Seosawon. Genre literature publishers including Gozknock ENT and children's book publishers Turtle Books and Kinderland were also present. Some of these publishers have previously been introduced by K-Book Trends, and readers interested in learning about them further should click the links below:

 

[Link to interview with Mirae N's Iseum] (Vol. 18)

 

 

Greenlight for publishing exchanges

 

This year's event was jointly hosted by the Publication Industry Promotion Agency of Korea (KPIPA) and China Publishing Group (Chairman Tan Yue). It aimed to expand exchanges between the publishing industries of both countries by supporting Korean book exports to China and introducing quality Chinese books to Korean readers. The visit to South Korea made by the China Publishing Group was seen as meaningful, as it is directly under the Chinese government's central propaganda department. Their presence at the event was interpreted as China's strong willingness to seek bilateral cooperation after publishing exchanges between South Korea and China were halted for the past three years due to the THAAD deployment issue. Hopes were high this event would be the beginning of sustainable exchanges between the two countries.

 

Publications from South Korea and China that were translated and released in the neighboring countries over the past 10 years

 

 

List of South Korean publisher participants for the exchange event

 

Gilbut  www.gilbut.co.kr
Joara  www.joara.com
Turtle books  www.littlekartacademy.com
Gozknock ENT blog.naver.com/gozknock
Kookhak www.kookhak.co.kr
Darakwon Inc. www.darakwon.co.kr
Dasanbooks www.dasanbooks.com
Yellowpig www.yellowpig.co.kr
Seosawon  blog.naver.com/seosawon
Hakgobang  www.hakgobang.co.kr
Mirae N  www.mirae-n.com
Minumsa www.minumsa.com
Vegabooks www.vegabooks.co.kr
Byeolsoop blog.naver.com/everlys
Bookgoodcome  www.bookgoodcome.com
book21  www.book21.com
Sunnysunday  sunnysunday.co.kr
Woongjin Thinkbig www.wjthinkbig.com
Uupress  uupress.co.kr
Ekbook ekbook.co.kr
Kidaribook blog.naver.com/kidaribook
Kinderland  www.kinderland.co.kr
Tiumbooks www.tiumbooks.com
Korea Institute of Piano Pedagogy www.pianoicon.com
Hangilsa hangilsa.co.kr

 

 

---

Written by Jeon Hye-young