VOL.93/2026.04

 

Willbooks Publishing Co.

Books That Quietly Draw Readers In

 

2025.07.07

 

How many kinds of pleasure can be gained from books? The joy of reading and learning are the most fundamental pleasures that books offer. However, today’s readers expect something more engaging and thought-provoking from books. While books retain their value as a medium to convey knowledge and information, an increasing number of readers now seek books that are not only informative but also aesthetically appealing as objects in their own right. Willbooks Publishing is a publishing house that not only responds to this trend but leads it.

 

 

It’s a pleasure to have you with us on K-Book Trends. Please introduce Willbooks Publishing to our international readers along with the meaning of the company’s name.

 

Hello, it’s good to meet you all! The name “Willbooks” is derived from the English word “will,” a charming future tense word that also means “willpower.” It expresses the idea that books have “future” and the “will” that reading books today will change the future. Since 2004, it has been a general publishing company that publishes books in various fields such as humanities, non-fiction, science, art, business, self-help, and children’s books. It has produced over 500 books so far and currently publishes about 50 titles a year.

 

Established in 2004, Willbooks Publishing has published a wide variety of books under the motto, “Willbooks Publishing makes the books that we need right now.” The phrase “the books that we need right now” is particularly eye-catching. We are curious to know what Willbooks’ criteria are for determining which books are necessary for us.

 

“What books will our readers want to read six months from now?” “What will people be particularly interested in exactly one year from now?” Willbooks Publishing strives to be a publishing company that is just “half a step” ahead in creating books. Discovering and fulfilling the intellectual curiosity, emotional needs, and social thirst that readers themselves may not even be aware of?creating such welcoming books is the goal of Willbooks Publishing. We believe that books that readers willingly accept also contain the power to be passed down as classics. When planning a book, we only decide to publish it when we can provide a concrete and convincing answer to the question, “What kind of reader will willingly pick up and read this book, and in what situation? What are the honest reasons and feelings behind that?”

 

 

We want to be a publishing company that makes books just ‘half a step’ ahead.

 

 

From IT to art, Korean temple cuisine to the Pope’s autobiography, Willbooks Publishing covers a wide spectrum. What is the secret to consistently publishing books of such high quality across such a diverse range of topics?

 

We believe that one of Willbooks Publishing’s strengths is that all of our members approach books on various topics and subjects without bias, in accordance with the planning principles described above. Even if a new social trend is unfamiliar, we make sure not to overlook it, studying it thoroughly. We also carefully review notable individuals and issues that are consistently mentioned. We have a separate planning team (Strategic Planning Team) that specializes in discovering books suitable for the Korean market, with extensive experience observing numerous successes, failures, and rediscovery cases in the global publishing market over the years. This experience and discernment are particularly what make us strong.

 

You have a high proportion of translated books. It is also interesting that there is a section on your website introducing translators. Could you tell us about Willbooks Publishing’s criteria for selecting, translating, and editing foreign books?

 

This follows on from the previous answer. There are many times when we cannot find answers to the curiosities and thirst for knowledge of Korean readers within Korea. It is much more common to take a step forward into the wider world, throw out new ideas, develop important stories, and reveal meaningful results. It is the strength and mission of Willbooks Publishing as a publishing company to ensure that Korean readers do not miss out on this valuable information.
We do, of course, publish many books written by Korean authors. However, because we extensively review books from various continents, we are widely recognized as a publisher that translates and introduces a wide range of foreign books. We maintain an open mindset when screening books for publication, particularly those that offer unique perspectives or intriguing stories that can only be provided by authors or books outside the Korean-language sphere. We also carefully review and prioritize the positive feedback from local readers where the original works were published.
We consider it our important mission to secure outstanding translators and make books that Korean readers can read smoothly. If necessary, we also request editorial adjustments from authors or original copyright holders to help Korean readers understand the book, even if such adjustments are not present in the original text. Although this might seem like a hassle, we are grateful that most authors understand that it is an effort to reach more readers, and we often receive positive responses and assistance.

 

The Willbooks Classics series is also interesting. This is especially true for collections such as Girl Classics, Horror Classics, Fantasy Classics, and First Love Classics. What inspired this project, and how do readers respond?

 

We are delighted that you have taken an interest in Willbooks Publishing’s esteemed Willbooks Classics series. This series presents world-renowned classic novels with modern translations that reflect current trends, along with stylish covers and timely keywords. Even as the world around us continues to change, the emotion evoked by outstanding literary works remains special. The words and actions of protagonists born centuries ago still resonate deeply with us today.
Among them, the first Willbooks Classics collection, Girl Classics, consists of Little Women, Anne of Green Gables, Heidi, and A Little Princess, which have influenced countless female readers in Korea since their childhood. These masterpieces, which brilliantly showcase the individuality of female authors and protagonists, have been newly translated using words and styles that are more vivid, modern, and socially sensitive, overcoming the limitations of past Korean translations. This is because translations from 30 to 40 years ago reflected the limitations of Korean society at the time, which had much more severe gender discrimination, racism, and class discrimination than today.
Each volume was translated by talented female translators who had a deep understanding of this intention. Many readers commented that even though they had read the book before, the fresh translation from Willbooks Publishing made it feel like reading a new novel, and it resonated with them much more deeply. The cover illustration and design by Anna Bond of the American design brand Rifle Paper Co. were also a major part of its popularity.

 

 

Since then, more intriguing collections were added to the Willbooks Classics series, such as the Fantasy Collection, consisting of Le Avventure di Pinocchio: Storia di un Burattino, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and Peter Pan, the First Love Collection, which is a collection of novels about first love, as well as the Horror Collection and Flame Collection, which compile global masterpieces born from anxiety and suffering. From 2025 onwards, we plan to showcase the Bront? Collection, a collection of works by the three sisters Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Bront?, for the first time in Korea.

 

 

Would you please introduce some of Willbooks Publishing’s Korean books that stand out among the many foreign books?

 

We would like to introduce three titles that will be particularly interesting to international readers.
If You Write Like That, No One Will Read It is a guide that shares real-world examples of UX writing by a current UX writer who has been working at LINE, a globally popular messenger app, for over 10 years. It explains the practical aspects and professional know-how of UX writing, a job that manages all online and offline service and brand texts, in an easy-to-understand and witty way. What makes this guide unique is its detailed insight into the world of UX writing, which has become an indispensable concept and profession in the IT industry. It also offers a wealth of effective tips that can be applied to marketing and copywriting outside the IT industry.
The music essay, Blue is the Color of G-string, is a collection of essays by a pianist and opera coach who performs on the world stage, sharing his unique way of appreciating carefully selected classical and jazz masterpieces. The title, “Blue is the Color of G-string,” is derived from the author’s expression that when he hears the note “G,” he feels a “blue light.” Written in a style that is both sensory and relatable, this book serves as an introductory art guide that can be comfortably read in any cultural context.
Children’s book, First Grade, Here We Come!: How to be the Ultimate 1st Grader, is a school life guide for children who have just entered elementary school. It is fun and entertaining, making it a book that all first graders and their parents will enjoy. Topics such as going to and coming home from school, using the school restroom, and making friends?issues that any child can relate to?are covered in a cartoon diary format filled with humor and practical tips, making it a helpful guide for young elementary school children in other countries as well. The book is also packed with practical, friendly, and uplifting tips gathered from the real-life experiences of current teachers. It has recently signed a copyright agreement with Taiwan.

 

 

Jeong Kwan Snim: My Food, a book by Buddhist nun Jeong Kwan, known as the “chef of chefs around the world,” is very popular. The book boasts a team of experts, including author Jeong Kwan, writer Hoo Nam Seelmann, translator Yang Hye-Young, and photographer V?ronique Hoegger. We would like to know more about the story behind the book, from its planning and production, to its marketing after publication.

 

Jeong Kwan snim (or seunim, meaning Buddhist monk/nun), who is widely recognized as a master of Korean temple cuisine, is a cook with remarkable skill and charm. While continuing the deep and unique traditions of temple cuisine and presenting a variety of creative ideas, she declares, “I am not a chef, but a practitioner,” which succinctly expresses many things about her.
Ironically and interestingly, this book was first produced by Echtzeit, an art book publisher in Switzerland, rather than in Korea. This is because Jeong Kwan snim never intended to “fix” her flexible and free recipes as books and texts. That is why she has always rejected numerous offers from Korean publishers to publish her recipes. However, when Hoo Nam Seelmann, a veteran journalist who had built a genuine friendship with her (she is also a woman who immigrated from Korea to Germany in the 1970s), suggested creating a book for German readers unfamiliar with temple food, she accepted, thinking, “If it’s something like that, maybe it’s okay.”
Swiss photographer V?ronique Hoegger joined this memorable project, and finally, a beautiful book titled Jeongkwan Snim was born. This book caught the attention of our planners at Willbooks Publishing, and the publication of Jeong Kwan snim’s book in Korean, which many had been waiting for, was finally realized. Jeong Kwan Snim: My Food, which could be considered a reimport, has additional content added to Jeongkwan Snim. She revised and added content to suit Korean readers with some knowledge of temple food. While reflecting her belief that “recipes are not something fixed,” she skillfully explained her unique principles for creative cooking in the book.
Translator Yang Hye-Young also contributed to the book with her eloquent sentences. Thanks to the dedication of Willbooks Publishing’s planners, editors, designers, and marketers, who all worked tirelessly to publish and promote this valuable book, it has been very well received by Korean readers. This recent valuable publication was made possible by a combination of coincidence, connection, and commitment.

 

 

It seems that Willbooks Publishing’s books all share a unique image as “Willbooks books.” There are also many readers who prefer that image. Please tell us what you consider important in book design.

 

We pursue a sophisticated yet comfortable design that does not feel burdensome to pick up, so that even readers seeing it for the first time can feel that “this is my book.” This is the power of Willbooks’ designers, who have a deep understanding of the book’s concept. Another characteristic of Willbooks Publishing’s design is that it incorporates elements of humor and wit in just the right places.

 

Merchandise that enhances the joy of reading must also be part of Willbooks Publishing’s identity. What is the process of planning and producing such merchandise?

 

We don’t always create merchandise as gifts for readers with every book, but when we do, we believe it’s essential to understand the hearts of our fans and readers. In the case of art books, we consider what form would be most appreciated by fans of the work and come up with gifts with practicality in mind. Well-made merchandise can generate explosive sales and buzz in a short period of time. For Jeong Kwan Snim: My Food, we made postcards featuring beautiful food photos and recipes, and they were very well received.
When making merchandise based on these ideas, it is essential to communicate and consult with the copyright holder. That is why we pay special attention to obtaining the copyright holder’s consent. In addition, we strive to avoid producing merchandise that will end up as trash due to the use of materials or designs that contribute to environmental pollution.

 

 

The sophisticated and comfortable design is the result of the efforts of Willbooks Publishing’s designers,
who have a deep understanding of the book’s concept.

 

 

Could you also tell us about Willbooks Publishing’s efforts to reach more readers?

 

Willbooks Publishing is a company that aggressively markets and promotes each and every one of its publications, both online and offline. We have passionate marketers on our team, and our editors not only edit books but also plan the entire marketing strategy with effective promotion in mind from the planning stage. We imagine what our readers will be like from the planning stage and find several suitable people in Korea who can best promote the book to those readers and contact them in advance. Even before the book editing process reaches its final stages, the company actively executes various plans using its own Social Media channels (such as YouTube, Instagram, and X(Twitter)), including content marketing, coordinating events with bookstores, and arranging reader reviews.
We also do our best in designing books and promotional materials. For example, Tokyo Hotel Sketch (東京ホテル?鑑), a popular book in which the author, an architect, drew watercolor-style sketches of actual measurements of wonderful hotels she stayed at, is very beautiful in itself, with the architect’s delicate brush strokes and penmanship intact. The Korean edition published by Willbooks Publishing aimed to preserve the retro handcrafted text design as much as possible. We carefully selected the most suitable Korean font from numerous options and adjusted each one meticulously to ensure that the design feels almost identical to the original book when compared side by side. Author Kei Endo (遠藤慧), who is known for her strict standards, was also satisfied with the design of the main text, and even posted about the detailed introduction page of the book, which was created by Willbooks and posted in bookstores, on her Instagram account, saying, “It’s really beautiful.” Thanks to all these efforts, the book continues to be loved even long after its publication, spreading through word of mouth.
Willbooks Publishing pays close attention to every detail, from the design and copy of promotional materials to media advertising tailored to the latest trends. We do our best to ensure that all of our publications receive the love they deserve.

 

 

We will continue to support Willbooks Publishing, a company that offers a diverse range of entertainment through books. Please tell us about your plans for new titles or future goals.

 

As a publisher known for its strength in foreign books, Willbooks Publishing is preparing to publish translations of several books that have attracted worldwide attention. Another goal is to increase the number of original Korean titles, adult books, and children’s books with unique ideas and solid content.
In July, I Deliver Parcels in Beijing, an essay that has already sold over 1 million copies in China and become a bestseller, will be published. It has already been signed for publication in 35 countries, including the US. It is a heartfelt book filled with the candid reflections and profound thoughts of a delivery worker. Another highly anticipated work is Henry A. Kissinger’s last book, Genesis, which offers insights into the future of AI society. Building on his previous work, The Age of AI, this book delves into even sharper and important topics.
In the children’s book category, we are preparing exciting books that have never been seen before, such as Miyo’s Mystical Classics Bookstore series, which consists of Chunhyangjeon, Pakssijeon, and The Nine Cloud Dream, adapted from classic Korean novels into webtoon-style comics. We look forward to your continued support and happy encounters!

 

 

---