VOL.69/2024.04

K-Book Copyright Fair Online

Korean Books join the global market through an online fair amidst the coronavirus pandemic

2020.11.02

The Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism and the Publication Industry Promotion Agency of Korea (KFIFA) are hosting the “K-Book Copyright Fair Online” from August 25th to December 11th at RYSE Autograph Collection Studio B (Yanghwa-ro, Mapo-gu) in Seoul.

Comprehensive support from finding overseas publishers to consultations and follow-up contract management

The Seoul Publishing Rights Fair where overseas publishers visit Korea and have business meetings over the copyright export of Korean books with Korean publishers (first held in 2018) is hosted this year with the name “K-Book Copyright Fair Online” to help the industry overcome the unprecedented COVID-19 crisis and seek export opportunities in the new publishing environment. To minimize the pressure on Korean publishers and to maximize export outcomes, comprehensive support will be provided, including finding the right overseas publishers, an interpretation service for meetings, and follow-up contract management.
A total of 40 Korean publishers are participating, including Changbi and Munhakdongne. On top of the publishers that have pre-registered for participation, if overseas publishers request meetings for books registered on the K-Book website (www.k-book.or.kr), relevant domestic publishers can join as well.
Meanwhile, more than 100 overseas publishers are expected to participate, ranging from Chinese publishers from which the copyright export is the greatest, to those from Southeast Asia, Europe, and the Americas. In particular, after the English edition (US, HarperCollins) of Almonds (Sohn Won-Pyung, Changbi) was designated as the “Amazon Best Book of May 2020”, the expectation for improved export opportunities for Korean books to the local US market is rising.

The online fair will begin on August 25th with 23 publishers from 6 countries, including 9 Chinese publishers, 5 Indian publishers, and 4 Singaporean publishers. It will then be expanded to invite 100 publishers by December 11th. To support meetings to conclude a contract, focus meetings with additional rooms for talks per region will be held (Chinese region from September 15th to 17th, European region on October 20th, and the Americas on November 24th).
Furthermore, a video of an “online seminar” is pre-produced and distributed to effectively promote Korea’s book publications. An official from KPIPA said, “I hope the K-Book Copyright Fair Online and K-Book Online Seminar can help our industry to seek a breakthrough in export in these times,” emphasizing the need for seeking a new way of supporting the export of outstanding domestic publications.

* Article about K-Book Online Seminar