VOL.97/2026.08

 

The Frontline of K-Book Copyright Exports:
Ten Years of the “Visiting Korean Book Fair”

 

2025.11.03

 

The “Visiting Korean Book Fair (찾아가는 도서전)” is a project jointly hosted and organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism (MCST) and the Publication Industry Promotion Agency of Korea (KPIPA) to reinforce the global competitiveness of Korean publishing content and promote the export of publications. Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, the “Visiting Korean Book Fair” has participated in book fairs around the world, supporting copyright consultations and publication contracts for Korean literature, and serving as a stepping stone for the ongoing globalization of K-Literature. This article reflects on the past ten years of the “Visiting Korean Book Fair” - its activities and the significance it has built over the decade.

 

The Year 2025: Accelerating the advancement of Korean books into North America and Eastern Europe

 

The year 2025 marked a decisive turning point for the global advancement of Korean publishing content. In September, the “Visiting Korean Book Fair in New York” was held as a strategic event targeting the North American market. The fair facilitated export consultations between 46 major North American publishers - including Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, and Simon & Schuster - and 15 Korean publishers, focusing on approximately 100 consigned titles. Substantial discussions took place regarding translation, publication, audiobook, and digital content rights, laying the foundation for K-Books’ entry into the North American market. This event went beyond simple consultations; through engagement with world-renowned literary agencies such as Trident Media Group and The Wylie Agency, it confirmed the potential for the global distribution of Korean literature. Digital content companies such as OverDrive and Recorded Books also participated, exploring collaboration opportunities in audiobooks and e-books.
In addition, the “Visiting Korean Book Fair in Eastern Europe” was held in Prague, Czech Republic, and Warsaw, Poland, in May. Korea was also selected as the Guest of Honor at the “2025 Warsaw International Book Fair,” the first Asian country to receive the honor. Through one-on-one consultations with 57 Eastern European publishers, the fair explored the potential for copyright exports across a wide range of genres, including K-Literature, children’s books, and graphic novels. The strong local interest is expected to lead to future contracts.

 

 

From China to the world: The beginning of the “Visiting Korean Book Fair”

 

The “Visiting Korean Book Fair” has established itself as a strategic platform for promoting K-Books and advancing Korean publishing content globally. It was first held in China in 2015 as Korea’s first attempt to overcome the limits of its domestic market, expand the scope of its publishing industry, and enhance profitability. Initially designed as a B2B business consultation program, the project aimed not at simple exhibitions, but at tangible copyright trades and content exports.
The participating group, consisting of representatives and editors from Korean publishing houses, expanded opportunities for copyright trading and cultural exchange with large Chinese publishing groups. For publishers unable to attend in person, their consigned titles were introduced through agents designated by KPIPA. Initially, the fairs were held in cities such as Nanchang, Chongqing, and Nanjing, but later expanded beyond Asia to include Thailand, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Indonesia, as well as Europe, the Americas, and the Middle East. The consultation format, tailored to each country’s publishing ecosystem, helped Korean publishers adapt quickly and present locally suitable content.

 

Ten years of achievements: The expansion of K-Books

 

From 2015 to 2025, the “Visiting Korean Book Fair” has been held more than 50 times across 20 countries, recording a cumulative consultation value of approximately USD 51.2 million and a potential contract value of around USD 12.92 million. In 2024, the fairs held in Japan, Indonesia, and Spain reached record scale, with 49 companies from Korea and 108 from overseas participating. In its early years, the “Visiting Korean Book Fair” adopted a relatively modest approach, focusing primarily on China and Southeast Asia. In recent years, however, it has taken a far more proactive stance, broadening its scope to include Japan, Europe, North America, and the Middle East. These achievements extend beyond mere event hosting, as they have established an international network for the distribution of Korean publishing copyrights and created genuine cooperation opportunities for international buyers by enabling tailored publishing content proposals for each country. Over the past three years, in particular, the diversification of genres has been striking, ranging from picture books, educational publications, and humanities titles to webtoons, essays, literature, graphic novels, and practical guides (lifestyle & hobbies, etc.). Expansion has also been vigorous, extending not only to translation and publication but also further into film adaptations, audiobooks, and digital content.
Moreover, many Korean authors have continued to achieve remarkable success across diverse fields, including literature, picture books, and children’s literature. For example, author Han Kang received the Nobel Prize in Literature, numerous Korean picture book illustrators have won the Bologna Ragazzi Award, author Chung Bora was shortlisted for the International Booker Prize, and author Lee Geum-Yi was named a finalist for the Hans Christian Andersen Award. These continuous awards and nominations across multiple categories have further solidified the global credibility of the excellence of Korean publishing content. The dedication and know-how behind planning and operating the “Visiting Korean Book Fair” have aligned with this positive momentum, leading to tangible achievements.

 

International buyers comment on K-Books: “An excellent blend of sensibility and structure”

 

Across the “Visiting Korean Book Fair” events, international buyers responded with genuine enthusiasm. At the New York fair, a Simon & Schuster representative overseeing Asian content commented, “Korean essays and children’s books display remarkable emotional depth and structural sophistication, making them highly appealing to North American readers.” Also, at the Prague fair, the editor-in-chief of Albatros Media, the Czech Republic’s largest publishing group, noted, “Korean children’s books are both educational and narratively engaging, giving them strong competitiveness in the Eastern European market.” Picture books and original stories for children, in particular, drew strong interest from local translators, leading to numerous requests for sample translations.
Meanwhile, the “Visiting Korean Book Fair in Jakarta” held in Indonesia generated explosive interest in webtoon-based content. A representative from a local media group stated, “Korean webtoons have outstanding character-driven storytelling and visual immersion, making them naturally adaptable for screen rights.” Indeed, several works were signed for video adaptation following the fair, demonstrating K-Books’ potential for expansion into multimedia. These reactions extended beyond favorable feedback, leading to actual contracts and collaborations. Buyers consistently noted three strengths of Korean content ? sensibility, structure, and expandability - while expressing interest in long-term partnerships.

 

Synergy with the “K-Book Copyright Market”: Turning consultations into real contracts

 

The “Visiting Korean Book Fair” operates in close connection with the “K-Book Copyright Market.” The “K-Book Copyright Market” provides a platform where buyers can directly review and negotiate translation, publication, and screen adaptation rights for the content introduced at the fairs, serving as a vital link between consultation and contract. Launched in 2018 as the 1st Seoul Book Business Fair, Korea’s first domestic B2B copyright consultation event, it has since evolved into the “K-Book Copyright Market,” expanding opportunities for business meetings ahead of the Seoul International Book Fair (SIBF). As the “Visiting Korean Book Fair” stabilized as an outbound strategy in 2018, the “K-Book Copyright Market” was developed as an inbound initiative. By 2025, it had grown into a robust event hosting 130 participants from 100 companies.
It has evolved beyond a simple trading platform into an integrated system that provides customized curation for buyers, sample translations of content, and post-contract local marketing support. Functioning as a one-stop solution, it offers foreign buyers the entire process, from discovery and consultation to contracting and distribution. Moving forward, it aims to enhance buyer convenience through technological expansion, including AI-based content recommendations, automated delivery of multilingual translations, and post-contract connections with local distributors. It also plans to work with global publishers on joint curation projects, translation support funds, and marketing campaigns targeting local readers, all designed to reduce buyer risk and increase profitability.

 

 

Support system: Establishing the foundation for copyright trades

 

KPIPA is continuing its efforts to provide and build foundational resources and platforms to facilitate successful copyright trades with international buyers. Among these, support for promotional materials is one of the most essential fundamental programs. Some of the projects consistently operated in this regard include the sample translation support program, which supports translation of excerpts and key information for books targeted for copyright export; the portfolio support program, which assists publishers in producing book introduction portfolios; and the web-novel translation support program, which provides translated excerpts of web-novels.
In 2025, 449 projects from 251 publishers were selected through the sample translation support program, while the portfolio support program selects around 40 to 50 publishers each year to assist with foreign-language translation and production. These materials serve as key content resources for international buyers and are actively used not only at book fair venues but also on online platforms. In addition, through the K-Book platform (www.kpipa.or.kr) and the web-magazine K-Book Trends, KPIPA continues to spread information about major Korean authors, books, and publishing industry trends to the global market. This is a strategic approach that continuously exposes international buyers to information about Korean publications, helping the content feel more familiar and approachable when they encounter it at book fairs and other events.

 

Toward a sustainable framework for collaboration

 

The world is captivated by Korean content these days. Books will be its next great phenomenon - a movement that is now accelerating. Despite past trials and errors, the steady growth of Korean publishers and KPIPA’s behind-the-scenes efforts to promote the overseas advancement of Korean books have led to today’s achievements. The “Visiting Korean Book Fair” has evolved beyond a one-time event into a sustainable framework for collaboration. Through the establishment of long-term partnerships, the development of digital matchmaking platforms, and localized content strategies, KPIPA is creating an environment in which international buyers can continuously explore and sign contracts for Korean content.
Following the global success of K-Pop and K-Drama, K-Books are now drawing attention in the global market. The “Visiting Korean Book Fair” and the “K-Book Copyright Market” have established themselves as gateways offering new opportunities for collaboration with international publishers and agencies. Now is the perfect time to join K-Books on their journey. The pinnacle of Korea’s dynamic culture ? K-Books - will soon be enjoyed by global citizens around the world.

 

 

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Written by Jeong Kwan-Seong (Team Manager of K-Book Culture Communication Team at KPIPA)