Exporting Publishing Content... Expanding from Paper Books to Secondary Copyrights

Government Provides 7.8 Billion KRW Support for K-Book Overseas Expansion
K-Story Market Created at Domestic and International Film Events
Specialized Children's Publishing Content Book Fair Held in Busan

The government is making vigorous efforts to expand the overseas market for domestic publishing content. It is establishing strategies tailored to the characteristics of each market and supporting exports through customized exchanges and cooperation. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced the K-Book Overseas Expansion Support Project on the 25th, centered on this approach. To materialize this plan this year, it is investing 7.8 billion KRW, which is 14.7% more than the previous year. Minister Yoo In-chon stated, "Global interest in domestic publishing content is increasing," and added, "We will firmly establish an export foundation to ensure that capable authors and works can stably enter overseas markets."

On the 14th, visitors at the '2023 Seoul International Book Fair' held at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, are looking at books. Photo by Jin-Hyung Kang aymsdream@

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is expanding the publishing revenue structure. It is extending the export market, which has been centered on physical books, to secondary copyrights. A turning point is the publishing intellectual property (IP) export consultation meeting. This event supports the export of secondary copyrights such as dramas, movies, and animations utilizing publishing IP. A ministry official explained, "We plan to guide overseas buyers through B2B export consultations, investment attraction, seminars, and consulting programs to induce IP transactions."

High expectations are also placed on the K-Story Market, which is being held for the first time at domestic and international film events. This event supports copyright consultations and story investment attraction for publishing original IPs that can be adapted into visual media. Digital promotional videos and more will be provided online as well. At the core is the web novel, which has recently established itself as a mainstream content. The ministry operates author training programs and cultivates new translators to secure competitiveness. It also supports publishers and platforms that find translation burdensome due to long serializations or large volumes.

Support for publishing companies is tailored to transactions between domestic and overseas companies. Various events provide opportunities for exchange and consultation. A representative example is the children's publishing content specialized book fair, held for the first time this year in Busan. It supports the children's book industry and content IP transactions focusing on children's literature, picture books, animations, webtoons, and educational content, which have the most active overseas demand among K-Books. 'Visiting book fairs' will also be organized in Spain, Indonesia, Japan, and other countries. These events facilitate transactions between publishing companies to promote exports. Additionally, at prestigious overseas book fairs such as the Bologna Children's Book Fair, Frankfurt Book Fair, and Shanghai Children's Book Fair, booths, promotional halls, and events will encourage publishing exchanges and export consultations.

On the 19th, citizens visiting the '2019 Seoul International Book Fair (SIBF)' held at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, are browsing books. Marking its 25th edition this year, the Seoul International Book Fair is being held under the theme of 'Emergence' until the 23rd. / Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

The ministry actively utilizes K-BOOK, an integrated export platform. It supports book and author information provision, domestic and international exchanges, and export consultations, and assists overseas market entry through export coordinators in eleven countries including the United States, France, Germany, Spain, and Russia. Furthermore, it supports small publishers in entering overseas markets by providing abstract and sample translations and portfolio production, and strengthens training for export preparatory personnel and job competency education for current employees.

Interactive exchanges to expand overseas readership are also being concretized. Competitively proven picture books are distributed to overseas base libraries and schools, and Korean authors and works are recommended for prestigious international awards such as the Andersen Award. In addition, introduction materials of Korean representative children's and picture book authors are provided to global dictionary sites, and local customized exchange events such as Korean book exhibitions and meetings with authors are promoted mainly through overseas Korean cultural centers. A ministry official said, "Especially during the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, Korean book exhibitions and author events will be held at bookstores, libraries, and cultural centers throughout Paris to establish a foundation for the entry of Korean publishing into the European market."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.