K-Book Trends -

Search word : "Young adult fiction", Search result : 26

[TREND / EXPORT CASE]

Export Case: Jeong Hae-Yeon’s Success in Thailand

Export Case Export Case: Jeong Hae-Yeon’s Success in Thailand 2026.01.05 Introduction of Eric Yang Agency Founded thirty years ago, Eric Yang Agency is now widely known as one of Korea’s leading literary agencies for introducing international translated titles to the domestic market, including the Harry Potter series and JUSTICE: What’s the Right Thing To Do?. Less widely known, however, is that the agency has also achieved significant results in exporting Korean books to overseas markets for more than two decades. Over twenty years ago, Eric Yang Agency established a branch in China, and today it exports Korean titles across Asia through its offices in Taiwan and Thailand, as well as through local Eric Yang agents based in each market. Building on this stable Asian foundation, the agency has recently expanded its efforts to export Korean books more broadly, including to English-language and European markets. In addition to handling global rights ...

VOL.90 / 2026.01

[TREND / KNOWLEDGE]

Books Loved Across Generations: Korean Steady Sellers

Knowledge Books Loved Across Generations: Korean Steady Sellers 2025.04.07 Bestseller lists reflect the issues of the times and the interests of readers. You can get a glimpse into readers’ thoughts and interests by looking at why a book gained traction. On the other hand, steady sellers are not only reflective of the times, like bestsellers, but they have the power to transcend time. A steady seller refers to a book that goes beyond just being a trend, and has a long-lasting lifespan through the power of its story. There are many books that become overnight bestsellers simply because they are written by popular authors with a fandom, or because they are endorsed by influencers. However, steady sellers are the ones that stay with readers across time. These books have stood the test of time and are more than just a fad; they resonate with readers and deliver a deeper message about life. They are not just books published a long time ago, but books still bein...

VOL.81 / 2025.04

[TREND / TOPIC]

What the “Steady Seller Phenomenon” Means for the Book Market

Topic What the “Steady Seller Phenomenon” Means for the Book Market On books that have reached their 100th print 2024.07.01 The implication of books that hit the 100th print Kim Dong-Sik’s The Grey Man (Yoda Books) recently celebrated its 100th printing in the Korean book market. While the writer’s dramatic leap from a foundry worker to a best-selling writer has been spotlighted, what is perhaps most important is the internal narrative of the short stories contained within. This collection of 24 short stories was selected from the hundreds of short stories he posted to the horror forum of an online community, “Today’s Humor.” It is indeed a kaleidoscope of life’s short stories, sometimes hilarious, sometimes heartbreaking. Readers have responded so enthusiastically to the short story collection, which went into its 100th printing in 2017 - 7 years after it was first published, and there are many factors behind this. The factor include the dra...

VOL.72 / 2024.07

[TREND / TOPIC]

Development and Transformation of Korean Young Adult Fiction

Topic Development and Transformation of Korean Young Adult Fiction 2024.06.03 “Young Adult (YA)” is a keyword that can’t be left out when discussing Korean literature in recent years. In fact, “recent” might not be the right word. It was in 2021 when the first article on the topic of “young adult fiction” appeared in K-Book Trends, and Sohn Won-Pyung’s Almond (Dazzling Publishers), which was mentioned as a work that led the young adult market at that time, was published in 2017. However, the term “young adult” appears in the submission guidelines of new fiction contests, in the names and intentions of newly conceived novel series, and in the introductions of young adult SF or fantasy novels. As such, young adult fiction is expanding and changing at a remarkably rapid pace. This growth can be attributed to the steady improvement of Korean young adult fiction, the changes in general fiction, and readers’ enthusiasm for new genres. S...

VOL.71 / 2024.06

[TREND / KNOWLEDGE]

Current status of each field in the Korean publishing market ⑫ Publications of Children’s Books/Teenage Books

Current status of each field in the Korean publishing market ⑫ Publications of Children’s Books/Teenage Books 2021.01.04 One of the most active publishing areas in almost any country is children’s books. Many of the children’s books in Korea (for preschoolers and elementary schoolers) have long been focused on education, learning, or cognitive development for its expected roles. However, they are undergoing evolution today as a tool for delivering necessary knowledge and wisdom for kids to actively cope with the world while nurturing their boundless imagination with entertaining elements. Meanwhile, the publishing market for teenagers, which is relatively smaller than children’s books in terms of titles and size, is growing its influence in the market with more various and absorbing topics, not to mention the facilitation of reading education conducted in schools. The teen market is breaking out of the narrow frame of a “generation stuck between child...

VOL.30 / 2021.01

[TREND / TOPIC]

The 2023 Seoul International Book Fair and the K-Book Copyright Market

Topic The 2023 Seoul International Book Fair andthe K-Book Copyright Market On-site Report on Hot Issues in the Copyright Market 2023.07.03 The “National Book Fair,” which began in 1954, was upgraded to an international book fair in 1995 and became the “Seoul International Book Fair (SIBF).” I joined the publishing industry in 1995 as a copyright agent, and attended the SIBF for the first time in the same year. It was named an “international” book fair, but there were a few booths from overseas publishers as well as other international publishers or agents that participated as individual guests. Time has passed since then, and this year, the SIBF marked its 29th anniversary.Hosted by the Korean Publishers Association, this year’s SIBF was successfully held in COEX located in Samsung-dong, Seoul, over five days from June 14 to 18. With a history of almost half a century, it proved itself as the hub of the Asian publishing market, and a pillar that pla...

VOL.60 / 2023.07

[TREND / TOPIC]

Fandom and Publishing

Topic Fandom and Publishing Trend in the Korean publishing market in 2022 2022.09.05 I have talked with a number of editors from publishing companies about “profitable books.” They all said, “The results are mostly determined by how influential the author is. How many readers it can attract is also one of the key points of signing a contract.”While fewer people are reading books, more people hope to write books today. So, among the manuscripts flooding in, the writers who sign the contract at the end are those who are influential. The marketing capacity of the publisher is indeed important. But, in this market where capital decides the marketing power, it is more likely that you must bring in “people that don’t read” to make a book go best seller. Thus, it is clear that a publishing company prefers to publish books by those with a strong fandom, created before publication. ...

VOL.50 / 2022.09

[INFORMATION / NEW BOOKS]

A Nation of Youth

New Books A Nation of Youth Talking about our present and the future in the face of a super-aged society 2025.09.04 Half the population is elderly, the birth rate is plummeting, AI is competing with humans; and the near future is riddled with hate and discrimination. And yet, there exists a shadowed utopia - Sycamore Island, where the world’s super-rich seniors gather. Though built for the elderly, it is also a dream destination for the young. It is because working for wealthy seniors means a life of leisure. Nara, a 29-year-old aspiring actor, who hopes to make her dream come true on the island, is one of them. “To reach old age with wealth intact?that is what society calls respectable. Whether or not it deserves respect, most admired elders have met that condition.” - from the book By chance, Nara becomes a counselor at a senior welfare facility?and g...

VOL.86 / 2025.09

[TREND / EXPORT CASE]

Book Trend in Korea Eyed by the Russian Publishing Market in the 2020s

Export Case Book Trend in Korea Eyed bythe Russian Publishing Market in the 2020s 2022.08.01 In 2021, Russia was designated as the target country of the “Visiting Korean Book Fair” hosted by the Publication Industry Promotion Agency of Korea (KPIPA) for the first time in the fair’s history. Even though the fair was held online due to the pandemic, it was successful enough to draw an enthusiastic response from not only Russian publishers but also Korean participants. It served as a chance for both Korean and Russian publishing companies who have been paying great attention to Korean publications to take the exchange to the next level. Also, it worked as a cornerstone for Korean books to grow further in the Russian publishing market, as a greater variety of Korean books could be exported to the Russian publishing market after the fair.The most distinguished image of Russia in the Korean publishing industry is the “country of literature.” In ...

VOL.49 / 2022.08

[INTERVIEW / KOREAN AUTHORS]

Writer Cho Young-Joo

Korean Authors Writer Cho Young-Joo A writer with a powerful imagination who has no limits 2025.08.04 No reader can fail to love an author who has such a powerful imagination and tireless productivity. And, if that author’s works are about characters who find peace and redemption through sheer force of will, and if the stories are breathtakingly exciting, the love for the author deepens. This is the case with Cho Young-Joo, who started out writing genre fiction before expanding into young adult fiction. Although her stories take on the appearance of thrillers, Cho has been writing heartwarming narratives about characters who are ultimately redeemed and healed. Here is a look into the whole new world she has created. It’s an honor to have you with us on K-Book Trends. Please say hello to our readers and introduce yourself briefly. Hello, everyone. I’m novelist Cho Young-Joo. I started my career as a w...

VOL.85 / 2025.08

VOL.93/2026.04

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