140th Anniversary of Korea-France Diplomatic Relations: K-Books Seek Entry into Europe in Paris

[Financial News] “K-Book Week,” which introduces Korean picture books, literature, and web novels to French readers, will be held in Paris. In addition to meetings between authors and readers, the event will offer copyright consultations between publishers to support entry into the European market.
According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) on the 7th, the event, organized with the Publication Industry Promotion Agency of Korea, began on the 5th and will continue through the 18th. Marking the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and France, it is being held under the theme “Connection: Linking Through Books” at Gallery Joseph in Paris’s Marais district, as well as at bookstores and libraries.
From the 15th to the 17th, 10 Korean publishers, including Dasan Books, Pureunsoop Publishing, and Gloyeon, will engage with more than 20 French publishers, including Dargo. Based on a preliminary demand survey, the organizers will hold one-on-one copyright export consultations and a seminar to share trends in the local publishing market and strategies for exporting publication rights.
While the exhibition and author events are intended to expand the local readership, the copyright consultations are aimed at finding partners to translate and publish the works. Whether readers’ interest can lead to actual publication is expected to determine the success of this exchange.
Gallery Joseph will exhibit approximately 130 items from the 6th through the 18th, including picture books, literature and web novels, French translations, and dramas and films based on publishing intellectual property (IP). Original picture-book artwork and three-dimensional sculptures will also be presented.
A space recreating author Jeeyoun Kim’s room will also be presented. Visitors can take part in hands-on programs, including coloring-book activities and fan-making.
Ten Korean authors, including Ahn Nyeong-dal, Pyun Hye-young, Cheon Seon-ran, and Chacha Kim, will hold 12 events through the 15th at bookstores, schools, and libraries, including lectures, autograph sessions, and discussions. French authors, including David Foenkinos, will also participate. A reading group will be held to read Korean novels published in French together.
At “K-Book Night,” a gathering of publishers from both countries, there will be a reading of Cheon Seon-ran’s work and a discussion on the relationship between literature and humanity in the age of artificial intelligence (AI). A tour of the local publishing industry, including Éditions Gallimard, is also scheduled.
Choi Hwi-young, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, will visit the exhibition venue on the 9th to hear the views of visitors and publishing industry officials. Choi said, “We will strengthen support for overseas expansion so that K-Books can reach European readers more closely in diverse ways.”
[email protected] Jang In-seo Reporter