K-Book Trends -

Search word : "Novel", Search result : 604

[TREND / EXPORT CASE]

The Bird That Drinks Tears, Flying Around the World

Export Case The Bird That Drinks Tears, Flying Around the World 2024.05.07 Sometimes, a project comes across your desk as an editor that immediately catches your eye. Maybe it’s the title, or the author, or the pitch that was written to suck you in. With The Bird That Drinks Tears (Minumsa Publishing), it was definitely the latter for me, specifically the idea of “the Korean Lord of the Rings.”Okay?that got my attention. Diving into the manuscript, then, I was blown away by the depth of the world and how fascinating the characters were. And yet, while Lee Young-do is certainly a Tolkien in breadth and spirit, he’s also distinctly Korean in the best possible way. This wasn’t just another Western fantasy retread, but a purely new read for me, and that was exciting. The “if you haven’t read it before, it’s new to you” vibe was strong, and I found myself sucked into the narrative. Korean edition o...

VOL.70 / 2024.05

[INFORMATION / K-BOOK MAP]

4 Must-Visit Publisher Book Cafes in Seogyo-dong for Editors

K-Book Map 4 Must-Visit Publisher Book Cafes in Seogyo-dong for Editors 2026.02 Here are four publisher-run book cafes tucked away in the alleys of Seogyo-dong, brimming with intellectual inspiration, that serve as must-visit destinations for avid readers and editors alike. Moonji Salon @Moonji Salon Instagram Overview There are certain places that are absolute must-visits for avid readers and editors alike. These are the publisher-run book cafes tucked away in the alleys of Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu—the district with the highest concentration of publishing houses in Korea—a neighborhood brimming with intellectual inspiration. Here, we introduce four recommended book cafes operated ...

VOL.91 / 2026.02

[INFORMATION / AGENCY LIST]

Agency List

Agency List Agency List 2026.03 Abba Communication Ltd. Launched as a translation and interpretation agency in 204, Abba Communication (Abba here after) now also acts as a copyright agency. Abba supports young Korean publishers who are aspiring to build experiences in moving on to the international market, providing consultation on the way until they become global. Abba’s special forte is its excellent professional team with expertise in re-writing and/or editing synopses and introductions into texts both competitive and persuasive. Other services Abba provides include translating original materials and creating promotional texts. Focused Subjects LiberalArts : Biography, Management, Negotiation &n...

VOL.91 / 2026.02

[INFORMATION / TOPIC]

Korean Publishing Market Trends in 2025 and Outlook for 2026

Topic Korean Publishing Market Trends in 2025 and Outlook for 2026 2026.01.05 Trends in 2025: A Year of Digital Transformation and Practical, Stability-Oriented Content In 2025, Korea’s publishing market underwent noticeable shifts in the ways readers discovered, selected, and consumed books, as digital transformation accelerated and social and economic uncertainty deepened. On the surface, the overall market size appeared relatively stable. Beneath that stability, however, structural changes became increasingly clear: the number of new titles grew significantly, while the average print run per title declined. As supply expanded, the actual market reach secured by individual titles continued to narrow. These changes were further shaped by the expansion of generative AI (Artificial Intelligence) and intensified competition from OTT (Over-the-Top) platforms. Together, t...

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[TREND / ONE-LINER QUOTES]

Two Ways to Read Spring in April

One-Liner Quotes Two Ways to Read Spring in April Columnist’s Pick 2024.05.07 Former journalist for Elle and Esquire, Min Yong-Jun is a freelance columnist, appearing on TV, lecturing, and writing. He wrote Yesterday’s Film, Today’s Director, and Tomorrow’s Conversation (Zene Scene), a collection of interviews he had with 13 directors. The seasons are always honest and dutiful - they do what they must when the time comes, without hesitation. In spring, it sows what it has to, blooms what it has to, and declares another cycle of seasons to begin again. Spring is always an invigorating and promising season, as if giving those who have missed the start of a new year a second chance to get back on the starting line. Although we often say that spring begins in March, it is usually April when we can truly enjoy it. So, I have selected 2 books that I think are perfect for April, when spring fully blooms. ...

VOL.70 / 2024.05

[TREND / EXPORT CASE]

Korean Literature in the American Market

Export Case Korean Literature in the American Market 2024.04.01 I began translating Yun Ko-eun for a literary translation workshop in 2015, as an undergraduate at Princeton University. Little did I know at the time that ten years later, I would still be translating Yun’s work. The Disaster Tourist (Minumsa), her first novel to be published in English, came out with Counterpoint Press in 2020. Her short story collection Table for One (Munji Publishing)?Yun’s debut publication, which was released in Korea in 2008?will come out in English with Columbia University Press in April of this year. I’m now working on a third book translation of Yun’s forthcoming novel Art on Fire (EunHaeng NaMu Publishing), and I hope to continue working with her for years to come. Korean (left) and English (right) covers of The Disaster Tourist The publication timeline for ...

VOL.69 / 2024.04

[TREND / BOOK TRIP]

The World Grows in the Wait

Book Trip [Into the Book ⑨] The World Grows in the Wait Seoul Station and Palaces: Walking Tour of Seoul’s Traditional Landmarks 2024.04.01 The Seoul Kid There are a lot of people waiting for something in the (Seoul Station) square.The homeless uncles, lady ‘Guichani,’ people from churches,and even the officers from the police district are waiting for something. The essence of waiting is to attune yourself to the other person’s time. Waiting for the person’s arrival, the heart, or happiness is all centered on the other person. Park Young-Ran’s novel, The Seoul Kid (Woorischool), captures how two brothers grow through their waiting for Iron Man through the eyes of a boy. Two brothers, aged 10 and 18, await the “Iron Man” who left them behind. When the older brother gets tired of waiting and sets out to find him himself, the younger b...

VOL.69 / 2024.04

[INFORMATION / AGENCY LIST]

Agency list

Agency List Agency list 2026.01.05 Abba Communication Ltd. Launched as a translation and interpretation agency in 204, Abba Communication (Abba here after) now also acts as a copyright agency. Abba supports young Korean publishers who are aspiring to build experiences in moving on to the international market, providing consultation on the way until they become global. Abba’s special forte is its excellent professional team with expertise in re-writing and/or editing synopses and introductions into texts both competitive and persuasive. Other services Abba provides include translating original materials and creating promotional texts. Focused Subjects LiberalArts : Biography, Management, Negotiation Contacts ? Kim jungsukE-mail : jskim@abbacomm.co.kr / Phone : +82-2-707-2103 / Regions : Asia, UK, USA ? Han-gyul GoE-mail : abba@abbacomm.co.kr / Phone : +82-2-707...

VOL.90 / 2026.01

[INFORMATION / BEST SELLERS]

Moving Into the Final Stretch of 2025

Best Sellers Moving Into the Final Stretch of 2025 Bestseller Trends in the Three Biggest Online Bookstoresin Korea for the 2nd week of November, 2025 2025.12.01 As November set in, temperatures began to drop abruptly, and daily swings became sharper. However, it isn’t the weather alone that signals winter’s approach. Bookstores began displaying Christmas ornaments and calendars for 2026, with next year’s planners quietly reminding readers that the end of 2025 is just around the corner. Around this time of year, bookstores always take on a distinctly wintery, year-end atmosphere.This shift was equally evident in the bestseller lists. Literature, which had long dominated the rankings, has retreated, while books forecasting trends for 2026 - already strong in October - continue to gain momentum. Riding the unusual boom in the Korean stock market, investment titles such as PS4’s Meta-Cognition Investing Method and Trend Following with Large-Caps also climb...

VOL.89 / 2025.12

[TREND / ONE-LINER QUOTES]

Why We Read Fiction

One-Liner Quotes Why We Read Fiction Pharmacist’s Pick 2024.04.01 Park Hool-Ryung is a pharmacist and writer who runs “A Bookstore That Is Yet Dependent.” With the goal of “Book & Fun,” which means that the fun of reading books shouldn’t be missed, the writer grows with readers and customers. (Instagram: @a_dok_bang) Most countries in the world today are deeply concerned about their aging populations. It is ironic that while we are living in an era of prosperity, benefiting from industrialization and advanced technology, the number of young people who will take the lead in the country is shrinking. This is also true for Korea, a country with a rapidly aging population. This often leads to conflicts between the young and the old, as they have different goals. This uncomfortable reality makes me wonder what it would be like if it were fiction. The world of fiction either nakedly shows reality or distorts it. This is why we r...

VOL.69 / 2024.04

VOL.93/2026.04

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