K-Books Head to New York... Meeting with 40 U.S. Publishers and Agencies

[Financial News] A one-on-one export consultation meeting for the entry of K-books into the U.S. market will be held in New York. It will explore the potential for expanding publishing intellectual property (IP), going beyond the translation and publication of literary works to include graphic novels and film adaptations.
According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) and the Publication Industry Promotion Agency of Korea on the 2nd, the 'Visiting Korean Book Fair in New York' will be held from this day to the 3rd at the NYC Seminar and Conference Center in New York, USA.
Fifteen domestic publishers, including Gloyeon, Dasan Books, MiraeN, and Jaeum & Moeum Publishing Co., Ltd., will participate directly on-site. 101 consigned books will be introduced through a consultation agency service.
In the United States, 40 companies will participate, including major publishing groups such as Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, and Simon & Schuster, as well as independent and specialty publishers and literary agencies. They will meet one-on-one with domestic participants to discuss the export of translation and publishing rights and the possibility of creating derivative works from IP.
In its annual report released last month, the American Association of Publishers (AAP) estimated the revenue of the U.S. publishing industry last year at $33.4 billion. This represents a 2.5% increase from the previous year. Thus, securing local distribution and copyright networks in the world's largest publishing market is the key to expanding K-book exports.
On the first day of the seminar, Barbara Zitwer, a literary agent who introduced Han Kang’s *The Vegetarian* and Kyung-sook Shin’s *Please Look After Mom* to overseas markets, will serve as a presenter. She will discuss strategies for entering the U.S. publishing market and growth opportunities for Korean literature.
The 'Visiting Korean Book Fair' is a support program for the export of domestic publishing content that began in 2015. Last year, 1,045 consultations were conducted in five countries, resulting in export achievements worth approximately $17.66 million. Of these, the New York event recorded 252 consultations worth over $7.5 million. This year, consultation sessions will be held in Vietnam, Thailand, Taiwan, the United States, and Italy.
Recently in the U.S., graphic novels based on Korean web novels and webtoons have been climbing sales charts, and film adaptation rights contracts for Korean novels are also continuing to be signed. After the event concludes, the books discussed will be donated to the Korean Cultural Center New York to expand engagement with local readers.
Choi Seong-hee, Director General of Content Industry Policy at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said, "I hope that domestic publishers will meet with key local publishing and rights officials to identify practical export opportunities and explore possibilities for new business expansion."

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