Korea Bookstore Association: "EBS Textbooks Yield Low Profit Margins for Local Bookstores"

"Complex Distribution Networks and Transaction Conditions Identified as Key Factors"

The Korea Bookstore Association (Bookstore Association) has expressed concerns about the strengthening of transactions between EBS and large bookstores and e-commerce platforms. The association pointed out that local bookstores could be excluded from the competition in supplying and selling textbooks.

A bookstore with textbooks on display. Not related to any specific expression in the article. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

On October 20, the Bookstore Association released a statement saying, "EBS textbooks are key products that students and parents frequently seek at local bookstores with high learning material sales." The association added, "Although EBS-linked textbooks such as 'Suneung Teukgang' and 'Suneung Wanseong' have strong sales, most local bookstores receive books at a much higher supply rate than large online bookstores, resulting in lower profit margins."

The association also stated, "The complex distribution network involving regional distributors and complicated transaction conditions are additional disadvantages for local bookstores," explaining, "Even if customers look for books at local bookstores, they are often unable to sell them in a timely manner, making it inevitable for them to fall behind in sales competition."

According to a survey conducted by the association targeting bookstores nationwide, 65% of respondents said that "the supply of textbooks is not smooth." Additionally, 72% reported a decrease in EBS textbook sales. The main reasons cited for poor supply and declining sales were "priority supply to large and online bookstores," "EBS's failure in demand forecasting," and "a sharp increase in online sales."

The association urged, "It is unfair for EBS to maintain a distribution policy that favors large retailers," and called on EBS to "restore its credibility as a public corporation by improving transaction conditions that enable coexistence with local bookstores and by establishing a reasonable supply system."

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