VOL.96/2026.07

Export Case

 

Export Case: One Day a Cat Came to Me
Interest in K-Culture: Expanding Beyond Pop Culture and into Spiritual Culture

 

 

2026.07

 

 

This book shares the wisdom of life learned from “Nyangi,” a cat encountered by chance at a mountain hermitage where the author settled after wrapping up ten years of life in Seoul. It captures the cat’s philosophy of living “earnestly yet casually” to the absolute fullest. From late 2025 through the first half of 2026, publishing rights for Bokyeong Sunim (Venerable Bokyeong)’s cat essay series comprising One Day a Cat Came to Me, Time to Read a Cat, and Happiness Brought by a Cat: Joyfully and Cheerfully were successfully contracted for export across 11 different linguistic regions worldwide, including the UK, Germany, Spain, and France. Although Bokyeong Sunim had already built a strong fandom as an essayist in the domestic Korean market, this marked his very first overseas publishing contract. Furthermore, securing contracts simultaneously across multiple language regions is an extremely rare phenomenon, leaving the author, the publisher, and external publishing professionals utterly astonished. The export of Bokyeong Sunim’s books holds profound significance, as it offers a glimpse into the potential for expanding Korean Buddhism, and more broadly, religious and spiritual content in general. It serves as a powerful demonstration that religious teachings can readily secure mainstream appeal if they are interpreted and reframed to meet the needs and demands of the current era.

 

 

 

 

 

Specificity and Universality: In the End, Content Is the Answer!

 

Recently, Buddhism has established itself as a major trend in Korean society. From temple stays, temple food, and meditation programs to exhibitions, merchandise, and cultural events, content imbued with Buddhist elements is being consumed in a wide variety of ways. This trend has synchronized with the global expansion of K-culture, reaching far beyond domestic borders. In fact, the number of international tourists visiting temples or participating in ascetic practice programs during their stay in South Korea has been steadily increasing. Today, global citizens are no longer satisfied with merely skimming the surface of Korean culture; they are paying close attention to the attitudes toward life and the spiritual values embedded within Korea’s traditions and spiritual culture.

 

This shifting landscape explains why the global community has turned its attention to the books of Bokyeong Sunim. The perspective of Korean Buddhism, which can be considered the very essence of Korean spiritual culture, is naturally dissolved into his writing. The essays of Bokyeong Sunim are by no means lightweight or superficial. They are packed with the contemplation and insight accumulated through a lifetime spent as a practitioner of monastic contemplation. Furthermore, they are infused with a universal wisdom about life that resonates with anyone, anywhere. It is commonly said that for content to succeed on a global scale, it must harmonize cultural specificity with human universality, and Bokyeong Sunim’s books do exactly that. Though deeply rooted in the Korean context, his narratives remain profoundly accessible. The stories of life drawn from a practitioner’s unique gaze possess more than enough power to evoke deep empathy across borders and languages. (And of course, the presence of the adorable cat, “Nyangi,” undoubtedly played a massive role as well!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Shared Literary Destiny: Agency and Publisher

 

No matter how beautiful the colors of a flower may be, it is difficult to appreciate its true value if it blossoms all alone. If an author’s writing is a flower, then the publisher and the agency are like the wind and the butterfly that spread its fragrance across the world. For a single book to catch the eyes of many and further expand its reach globally, these three elements must harmonize perfectly.

 

In the process of exporting the publishing rights for Bokyeong Sunim’s recent book, the role played by the Danny Hong Agency was monumental. While there had been occasional overseas interest in the Venerable’s books in the past, it had never actually culminated in a contract. This time, however, was different. The Danny Hong Agency recognized the book’s value first and proactively proposed international marketing, and thanks to their genuine dedication, remarkable results were achieved. While I am incredibly grateful for their success in securing contracts across numerous linguistic regions, I was, above all, deeply moved by the partnership they demonstrated throughout the entire journey. They thoughtfully considered the position of our publisher, which lacked extensive experience, and always responded with utmost sincerity even to minor inquiries. Thanks to them, we were able to learn so much about the rights management business. I would like to take this opportunity to express my deepest gratitude to the Danny Hong Agency for walking alongside us in this beautiful journey that has been wonderful in the beginning, wonderful in the middle, and wonderful in the end.

 

 

 

 

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Written by Yang Minho (Editor, Bulkwang Publishing)

An ordinary office worker who embraces religious teachings as a source of life wisdom, and thus uniquely holds both a Buddhist dharma name and a Christian baptismal name. He has been working as an editor at Bulkwang Publishing for over a decade.