Korea opens export booth at Frankfurt Book Fair, debuts K-Book Global 100

South Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Publishing Industry Promotion Agency said they will operate an export consultation booth at the 2026 Frankfurt Book Fair, which runs from October 7 to 11 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, to support overseas sales of Korean publishing content. The ministry said it is also setting up a dedicated booth for the K-Book Global 100 project, which is being pursued for the first time this year. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]

The export consultation booth covers 120 square metres, according to Asia Economy and ZDNet Korea. Fifteen Korean publishers are taking part, including Dasan Books, The Pinkfong Company, Munpia, Munhakdongne, Mirae N, Book21, Wisdom House, Changbi and Kinderland, presenting titles in literature, humanities, picture books and web novels and webtoons and holding copyright consultations with overseas publishers and agencies. Yonhap listed Munhakdongne, The Pinkfong Company, Munpia, Mirae N, Book21, Kinderland and Changbi among the participants. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]

For publishers that cannot attend in person, 103 commissioned titles submitted by Korean publishers will be exhibited separately and discussed with overseas publishing officials by a professional agency, and the documents say follow-up consultations are planned so that talks can lead to actual contracts. Asia Economy and ZDNet Korea reported that 299 consultations were held at last year's booth. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]

The K-Book Global 100 project selects Korean books considered competitive overseas and supports them from translation to marketing according to language markets and market characteristics, according to the documents. At a dedicated booth — 30 square metres, ZDNet Korea said — 89 titles chosen by 20 publishers and agencies will be presented, including works from Moonji Publishing, Minumsa, Sakyejul Publishing, Changbi, Wisdom House and Safety House. Asia Economy said the lineup includes Munhakdongne's Book-to-Film five titles, Korean-style fantasy literature, K-graphic novels and picture books by award-winning authors. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]

On October 9, three companies — Angraphics, Woori School and TCA Agency — will hold an investment event presenting their main works directly to overseas publishing officials, with the aim of linking copyright consultations to contracts and follow-up business. ZDNet Korea said the event starts at 10 a.m. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]

The Korea Publishing Industry Promotion Agency, the Korea Creative Content Agency and the Korea Literature Translation Institute are jointly creating a Korean pavilion under the theme “Crossroads of Stories”, the first time the overseas promotion spaces of the three bodies have been combined, according to the reports. On October 8, the ministry and the Korean Cultural Centre in Germany will hold a publishers' exchange event; Yonhap and ZDNet Korea said it takes place in the afternoon, with ZDNet Korea specifying 4 p.m. Participants include publishing officials from Germany, Britain, Italy and Japan. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]

Asia Economy and ZDNet Korea reported that last year's fair drew participants from 131 countries and about 4,350 institutions and publishers, with about 238,000 visitors including 120,000 general readers. Kim Jae-hyun, head of the ministry's Culture and Media Industry Office, said the fair is “an important opportunity to make practical business results” by showing the diversity and competitiveness of Korean publishing content to the world market, and said the government would strengthen the base for overseas expansion so that content intellectual property can “create sustained added value in the world market”. [ 1 , 3 ]