- Visiting Korean Book Fair to be held in Hanoi, Vietnam (May 18–19) and Bangkok, Thailand (May 21–22)

- 20 Korean publishers and 102 consigned titles to hold export consultations with 51 Vietnamese and 39 Thai companies

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Minister CHAE Hwi-young, MCST), together with the Publication Industry Promotion Agency of Korea (KPIPA), will host the Visiting Korean Book Fair in Hanoi, Vietnam (May 18–19, Grand Vista Hanoi) and Bangkok, Thailand (May 21–22, Amari Bangkok) to expand K-Book export markets in Southeast Asia.

Launched in 2015 to develop K-Book export markets, the Visiting Korean Book Fair has produced tangible results year after year. Last year, a total of 1,045 export consultations were held across five markets—the Czech Republic, Poland, Taiwan, the United States, and Dubai—with a consultation value of USD 17.66 million (approximately KRW 26.1 billion).

Recently, Southeast Asia has emerged as a strategic overseas hub for K-Book, with demand for Korean books rising sharply. Vietnam shows particular strength in Korean publishing content in the children’s, educational, and practical book sectors, while in Thailand, interest in Korean book intellectual property (IP) is growing amid the success of dramas and films based on webtoons and web novels.
This year, the MCST plans to develop export strategies and actively pursue these markets in line with local consumption patterns and market characteristics.

20 Korean Publishers to Hold Export Consultations with Vietnamese and Thai Companies

At the Hanoi and Bangkok book fairs, 20 Korean publishers—including MiraeN, Woorischool, Woongjin ThinkBig, and Hansol Soobook—will participate and hold export consultations with local publishing companies. For 102 titles from Korean publishers unable to attend in person, Eric Yang Agency will conduct on-site consultations on their behalf. In Vietnam, 51 companies will take part, including Kim Dong Publishing House[1], the country’s largest state-owned children’s and youth publisher, and Alpha Books[2], a leading practical book publisher. In Thailand, 39 companies will participate, including Amarin Group[3], Thailand’s largest media group, and Nanmee Books[4],
which has an extensive network of local online and offline bookstores. They will discuss not only copyright exports with Korean publishers but also various forms of cooperation to expand publishing IP. After the events, the books used in consultations will be donated to local Korean Cultural Centers, creating an environment where local readers can continue to access K-Book. The Visiting Korean Book Fair will also host expert seminars introducing the latest trends in the Vietnamese and Thai publishing markets to help participating companies enter these local markets.

K-Book to Expand Its Global Reach Through Export Consultations in Taiwan in July, the U.S. in September, and Italy in November

Starting with the Southeast Asian markets, the MCST plans to expand K-Book export channels by holding the Visiting Korean Book Fair in markets across different regions: Taiwan, the most strategic destination for K-Book exports, in July; the United States, the world’s largest and one of Korea’s key export markets, in September; and Italy in November.