K-Book Trends -

Search word : "Letters", Search result : 152

[TREND / SPECIAL PROJECT]

Korean Picture Books: Selected by Critics Across Generations

Special Project Korean Picture Books:Selected by Critics Across Generations 2026.05 In the May issue Special Project, critics from various generations each highlight a notable Korean picture book. This feature introduces a children’s picture book about the misunderstandings that occur in communication, a book that explains complex emotions that are often difficult for children to grasp, and a title that addresses challenging situations that can be hard for a child to understand. The 20s Perspective – Lee Sollim, Cultural Critic "In the moments spent looking into the miniature house of the grass bug..." Grass Bug Picture Dream...

VOL.94 / 2026.05

[TREND / KNOWLEDGE]

The Present and Future of Korean Non-Fiction Publishing

Knowledge The Present and Future of Korean Non-Fiction Publishing 2026.05 Non-fiction has long played a pivotal role in the publishing market as both a knowledge infrastructure and a forum for public discourse, yet its status has recently begun to falter. Although the number of new titles published remains steady on the surface, the decline in actual sales volume and market share indicates that the non-fiction market is weakening from within. This phenomenon is difficult to explain solely by a decrease in the reading population or a shift away from traditional media. Rather, it should be viewed as a structural inflection point occurring in the process of fundamentally reorganizing the systems of knowledge production, distribution, and consumption due to accelerated digital transformation (DX). Ultimately, the stagnation of non-fiction symbolizes a paradigm shift in the publishin...

VOL.94 / 2026.05

[TREND / EXPORT CASE]

The Export Case of Hello Baby

Export Case The Export Case of Hello Baby Women’s stories have strong appeal in the global literary market 2025.10.02 Published in March 2023, Hello Baby (EunHaengNaMu Publishing) by Kim Eui-Kyung is a novel that tells the stories of women struggling with infertility, an issue that has long been overlooked in our society. In recent years, infertility has become more common, and I even had acquaintances seeking treatment at clinics, but my knowledge was limited to the fact that the procedures placed a heavy burden on women’s bodies. For me, reading Hello Baby was a shockingly fresh experience, as the novel vividly and realistically depicts the treatment process and the psychology of women who choose to undergo it, making it feel almost like reportage. At the time, there was a steady demand overseas for women’s stories, and since attention was being paid not only to infertility treatments, but also to the social and cultural pressures impos...

VOL.87 / 2025.10

[TREND / TOPIC]

Korean Literature: From Page to Screen

Topic Korean Literature: From Page to Screen 2025.09.04 In the Korean film industry, the label “based on a novel” is no longer unusual. Over the past decade, films adapted from literary works have steadily reached theaters, making secondary rights sales a significant revenue stream for publishers. For filmmakers, novels are an attractive source material because they offer strong narratives and existing recognition, all within the constraints of limited budgets. As a result, adaptations have not only drawn audiences to cinemas but also reignited book sales, often sending older titles back up the bestseller lists. Since the success of adaptations such as Gong Ji-Young’s The Crucible (Changbi Publishers) and Kim Ryeo-Ryeong’s Wandeuk (Changbi Publishers), which achieved both commercial popularity and social impact, literary-based films are no longer regarded as “exceptional undertakings.” This month’s article reviews prominent examples from the last ten...

VOL.86 / 2025.09

[TREND / EXPORT CASE]

How Korean Books Are Conquering Russia: The Experience of MIF

Export Case How Korean Books Are Conquering Russia: The Experience of MIF 2025.06.02 In recent years, Korean literature has been steadily capturing the hearts of Russian readers. One of the advocates of K-literature in Russia is MIF Publishing House. In this article, we explore how MIF made the strategic decision to publish Korean books, the titles that have already resonated with readers, and what the future holds. Who We Are MIF Publishing is one of Russia’s largest independent publishing houses. Since 2005, we have been producing high-quality nonfiction for adults and children, including books on self-development, business, psychology, art, and science, as well as fiction for adults, young adults, and younger readers.Our backlist includes more than 5,000 titles, and we publish around 400 new books each year. Our authors range from bestselling international names to renowned Russian writers. We are active participants in the world’s leadin...

VOL.83 / 2025.06

[TREND / EXPORT CASE]

Spreading Its Wings To the World: The Seoul Letter Shop

Export Case Spreading Its Wings To the World: The Seoul Letter Shop 2025.01.06 On October 12, 2023, I received an email from Shinwon Agency, Korea’s first copyright export agency. They wanted to meet me at the Frankfurt Book Fair. I was going to be there, so we agreed to meet on October 19. This was about a month after I had sent them a cold email looking for an export partner. Within that month, I sent them a cover letter for my publishing house, met with them to introduce my publication lineup, and passed on additional materials about the works they were interested in. Among them was a proposal for The Seoul Letter Shop (TXTY), including a synopsis.It felt interesting and fateful that two Korean companies would be meeting in Frankfurt on October 19, 2023, to talk about working together. Shinwon said that there was a lot of interest from Anglo-American partner agencies and offered an exclusive agreement for The Seoul Letter Shop. I was flabbe...

VOL.78 / 2025.01

[TREND / ONE-LINER QUOTES]

Timeless Wisdom, Ageless Class

One-Liner Quotes Timeless Wisdom, Ageless Class Music Critic’s Pick 2025.01.06 Park Jun-Heum is a popular music critic and curator. Since 1997, he has been involved in popular music media, festivals, research, education, and publishing. He recently published an interview collection featuring Uhm In-Ho and Ahn Chi-Hwan in the series Record of a Legend: The Artists Park Jun-Heum Met. The winter’s cold and cloudy days are lingering on. Partly because of the weather, partly because of getting older, I think there is definitely a kind of depression that I have never experienced before. Maybe that’s why old politicians are so obsessed with power to counteract it. And maybe that’s the answer to the question, “What kind of wealth and honor do you expect at that age?”It may have little to do with wealth or glory, but here are two books that embody the enduring wisdom forged only by those who persevere daily through hardships, along wit...

VOL.78 / 2025.01

[TREND / BOOK TRIP]

A Decade of Living With Poetry: The Poet’s Journey Blossoming Through Verse

Book Trip [A Trip to Literary Museums ⑧] A Decade of Living With Poetry:The Poet’s Journey Blossoming Through Verse Chungcheongnam-do, Buyeo-gun: Shin Dong-Yeop Literary Museum 2024.12.02 Buyeo is a place that witnessed the rise and fall of the ancient kingdom of Baekje, located in the southwestern part of the Korean Peninsula. It was home to the Baekje royal palace for 122 years until the kingdom’s fall. Traveling to Buyeo is like traveling back in time to the glory and prosperity of Baekje. This is because you can enjoy the charm of ancient culture and arts in depth. Additionally, Buyeo is home to the Shin Dong-yeop Literary Museum, where visitors can encounter the poet Shin Dong-yeop, who resisted the painful modern history of Korea. Also, a journey to Buyeo is an encounter with a rich, long-established culture, as you can visit the Buyeo National Museum, where you can explore the various cultural heritages left behind by the Baekje pe...

VOL.77 / 2024.12

[TREND / KNOWLEDGE]

Write the Story You Want to Read

Knowledge Write the Story You Want to Read Self-publishing platforms in Korea: The reasons for growth and the current state 2024.11.04 “If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.” - Toni Morrison, winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1993 While there is no established academic definition, “self-publishing” refers to authors planning, editing, publishing, and distributing their own manuscripts without working through a publishing company. As opposed to “vanity publishing,” which involves paying an upfront fee to a publisher to produce and distribute a book, it is used almost interchangeably with “independent publishing” in Korea (some researchers and book critics use the two terms separately). The desire to document ...

VOL.76 / 2024.11

[INFORMATION / AGENCY LIST]

Agency List

Agency List Agency List 2026.06 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 : a...

VOL.95 / 2026.06

VOL.95/2026.06

SEARCH RESULT