VOL.95/2026.06

Korean Publishers

 

TURTLENECK PRESS:
The Delightful Challenge of a Solo Publisher

 

 

2026.06

 

 

TURTLENECK PRESS is a solo publishing house founded by veteran editor Kim BoHee. Although recently established, it has quickly become a rising star in the publishing industry, notably releasing the bestseller Editorial Thinking. The name itself playfully evokes the image of avid book lovers sitting for hours until their necks bend forward like turtles. True to its unique name, the publisher also runs a newsletter called “The Turtleneck Letter.” We sat down to hear about the vision and dreams of TURTLENECK PRESS, a company that does truly special things.

 

Q. Your publishing house has such an intriguing name. Why “TURTLENECK PRESS”?

 

TURTLENECK PRESS is a brand created for people who love books so much that they have developed a “turtleneck” (forward head posture) because of them. The name literally combines the words “Turtle” and “Neck.” While preparing to launch the brand, I knew I wanted to create something with and for people who genuinely light up just thinking about books.

 

One day, I was jokingly chatting with an author about what book lovers and bookmakers have in common. What do people in publishing share? As we were thinking about common occupational hazards for editors, like herniated discs or scoliosis, someone mentioned “forward head posture,” which is called a “turtle neck” in Korean. Turtle neck... Turtleneck... TURTLENECK PRESS?! That is how we accidentally stumbled upon the name. I really wanted it to capture the true identity of book lovers.

 

 

 

 

 

Q. For our overseas subscribers who might be unfamiliar with TURTLENECK PRESS, could you recommend just one book from your catalog that you would most highly suggest?

 

I would love to recommend Editorial Thinking by author Choi Hye-Jin, the very book that put TURTLENECK PRESS on the map for so many readers. Having recently gone into its 30th printing, it has been a beloved bestseller in Kyobo Book Centre’s art category for over 100 consecutive weeks.

 

We live in an era of excess, overflowing with information, knowledge, and insights, a time when it feels as though nothing truly new is left to discover. Even more so today, when AI can replace us in everything from conducting research to drawing conclusions with just a single click, what matters most is having your own unique perspective. Possessing that perspective ultimately boils down to what you choose to select, what meaning you manage to uncover, and what new value you can create. Editorial Thinking encapsulates the exact process of that mindset.

 

Among the many reviews left by readers, what struck me most was how they felt a sudden urge to write, to create something, and to try new things after finishing the book. If you are looking for a fresh source of inspiration, this is the book for you.

 

 

 

 

 

Q. You also publish a newsletter. Could you share what makes your newsletter, “The Turtleneck Letter,” so special?

 

I wanted to publish a newsletter that feels like a radio program. There is something truly magical about radio. Just knowing that you are listening to the same program connects you to a broader community of listeners. I wanted the subscribers of “The Turtleneck Letter,” who are also the readers of TURTLENECK PRESS, to experience that exact same feeling of connection.

 

That is why I write it like a personal letter rather than a typical newsletter. Instead of trying to include trendy segments or curated information like most newsletters do, I opted out of any rigid format. I chose to fill it with small, everyday stories, just like a letter you would receive from a close friend. We affectionally call our subscribers “Turtleneck Members.” Every time I write to them, it is with the same care and intention as drafting a handwritten letter. Rather than focusing on book promotions or data, I share the mindset of making books, the daily routines of running a brand, and the honest thoughts of a book-loving friend.

 

Perhaps that sincerity came through, because we receive an overwhelming number of replies from our readers, almost like listeners sending in their stories to a radio station. I used to reply to those messages individually to share them, but the volume eventually became too massive to handle alone. This naturally led me to launch a podcast called “Turtleneck Radio” to read and respond to those letters. Everything truly blossomed from that single, heartfelt letter.

 

 

The Turtleneck LetterTurtleneck Radio

 

 

 

 

Q. What does tomorrow look like for TURTLENECK PRESS? Could you briefly share the vision you are creating for the future of publishing culture?

 

Rather than limiting ourselves to the definition of a “publisher,” we prefer to call TURTLENECK PRESS a “brand.” What we truly want to do is create books about things we want to learn alongside our fellow book-loving friends, sharing diverse experiences and growing old together with them. Currently, we communicate through three channels: books, our newsletter, and our podcast, but we want to explore even more varied endeavors in the future. Just as we write our newsletter like a letter to a friend, we are joyfully imagining and pondering what exciting projects we can undertake next to age beautifully with this community.

 

 

 

 

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Interview. Kim BoHee (Publisher, Editor)

A veteran editor with 22 years of experience. She founded TURTLENECK PRESS in 2023 and has since published a total of nine titles. In 2024, TURTLENECK PRESS garnered significant attention by being named a “Publisher with a Promising Tomorrow” by Kyobo Book Centre and the “Rookie Publisher of the Year” by Sisa IN.