Paradise Named Grand Prize Winner of the 2025 Excellent Reading Management Workplace Awards

277 Workplaces Certified as Excellent Reading Management Organizations

Paradise Co., Ltd., which has encouraged voluntary participation among its employees through unique reading programs-such as the group-wide joint reading club 'Parabook Club,' the in-house reading instructor training program 'Book Facilitator,' the year-end reading culture festival 'Parabook Festival,' and the monthly reading newsletter 'Parabook Letter'-has been awarded the Reading Grand Prize (Minister's Award) by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Employees of Paradise Co., Ltd. participating in the in-house reading instructor training program called 'Book Facilitator.' Provided by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, together with the Korea Publication Industry Promotion Agency, has selected 277 workplaces (131 newly certified, 146 recertified) that are leading the spread of a reading culture in the workplace through reading-friendly management as the '2025 Excellent Reading Management Workplaces.'

Record 277 Certifications, Follow-up Support Including Reading Management Consulting for Certified Organizations

Launched in 2014 and now in its 12th year, the 'Excellent Reading Management Workplace Certification System' annually selects companies and organizations practicing reading-friendly management, certifies them in the name of the Ministry, and rewards outstanding organizations. Starting with 20 certified workplaces in its first year, the number of certified companies has increased every year, reaching a record high of 277 this year. Certified companies receive follow-up support such as customized reading management consulting, book support, and practitioner networking events.

This year, certified companies have notably sought to drive strategic management innovation based on their internal reading culture. Keeping pace with digital transformation trends, companies have diversified reading methods by supporting e-books and sharing reading reviews via online platforms. They have also integrated reading activities with talent development and innovation idea proposals, demonstrating that reading management is becoming a practical medium for enhancing corporate competitiveness.

Minister's Award Presented to Six Outstanding Organizations, Grand Prize Goes to Paradise Co., Ltd.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will present the Minister's Award to six organizations with the highest evaluation scores among the certified workplaces (one Grand Prize winner, five Excellence Awards). This year, Paradise Co., Ltd. has been selected as the Grand Prize recipient.

The Excellence Awards will be presented to five companies: ▲ Join Bokjeong Branch of Join Agricultural Corporation, which shared online reading reviews using the 'TTT (Thinking, Talking, To Try) Card' and operated a reading discussion learning organization; ▲ Strange Marketing Co., Ltd., which promoted knowledge-sharing-centered reading management by supporting employees' requested books twice a month and providing book presentation opportunities at all-hands meetings; ▲ Transcosmos Korea, which created a reading environment by installing bookshelves and supporting e-library access at all centers and running a YouTube reading channel; ▲ Korea Southern Power Co., Ltd., which enabled employees to participate in various reading activities through mobile mini book caf?s and handwritten letter contests; and ▲ Korea Maritime Transportation Safety Authority, which operates the 'Sound of Waves Library' accessible to both local residents and ferry passengers.

Reading Management Excellence Workplace Certification Ceremony Held on the 5th, Award-Winning Companies and Institutions to Share Best Practices

This year's 'Reading Management Excellence Workplace Certification Ceremony' will be held on the afternoon of November 5 at the International Conference Hall of the National Library of Korea. The ceremony will include the presentation of awards and certificates to outstanding companies, sharing of best practices, and a lecture by author Park Woonghyun, who wrote 'Books Are Axes,' on the theme 'Why Do I Read Books.' The Grand Prize and Excellence Award recipients will also receive a certification plaque and a book culture gift certificate as additional prizes.

Furthermore, starting this year, e-book service companies will expand their support for reading management certified companies. To allow certified companies to experience e-book services, Kyobo Bookstore will provide a one-month free trial of its Sam service, Millie's Library will offer a three-month free trial of its corporate service, Yes24 will offer a one-month free trial of its Crema Club, and Willa will provide a one-month free trial.

Lim Seonghwan, Director General of Media Policy at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, stated, "Books nurture people, and those people contribute to the growth of their organizations, creating a virtuous cycle. More organizations are now integrating reading into their management strategies to realize this structure. The Ministry will continue to expand follow-up support, such as reading programs, so that more organizations can lead the way in spreading a reading culture not only for individual and organizational growth but also throughout local communities."

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