Hakjisa CEO Kim Jin-hwan to receive Silver Crown Order of Cultural Merit for publishing around 7,000 titles and protecting copyright

[Financial News] Kim Jin-hwan, CEO of Hakjisa, who has worked to publish academic and professional books and protect copyright, will receive the Silver Crown Order of Cultural Merit. Publishers who have contributed to publishing literature and humanities books, the digital transition, and the training of professional personnel were also selected for awards.
According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, awards will be presented to 29 people for their contributions to the development of publishing culture at the 40th Book Day ceremony, being held at the Korea Press Center in Seoul on the 12th. The awards comprise one Silver Crown Order of Cultural Merit, two Presidential Commendations, two Prime Minister's Commendations, and 24 commendations from the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
Kim, who founded Hakjisa in 1992, has published around 7,000 titles while operating publishing- and education-related organizations, including Hakjisa Medical. During his tenure as president of the Korean Academic Publishing Association, he focused on improving the distribution system for copyright compensation, combating piracy, and promoting electronic publishing.
The Order of Cultural Merit is a national decoration awarded to people who have made significant contributions in the fields of culture and the arts, thereby advancing the public's cultural life and the development of the country. It is divided into five grades: gold, silver, precious, jade, and flower crown. The Silver Crown Order of Cultural Merit is the second-highest grade, after the Geumgwan Order of Cultural Merit.
Joo Yeon-seon, CEO of Eunhaengnamu Publishing, will receive a Presidential Commendation. Since founding the publishing house in 1997, she has published around 1,200 literary, humanities, and arts titles, and contributed to discovering emerging writers, launching the literary magazine Axt, and exporting publishing rights overseas.
Kim Ki-tae, a professor at Semyung University, will also receive a Presidential Commendation. Since 2001, he has nurtured publishing professionals through lectures on copyright and research ethics. He has also helped advance research in publishing studies through industry-academic collaboration.
The recipients of Prime Minister's Commendations are Kim Jong-su, CEO of Hanul M Plus, and Lee Ji-yeon, CEO of Ijis Publishing. Since founding the publishing house in 1980, Kim has published around 4,000 social science titles and participated in research on publishing policy and efforts to improve distribution.
Lee founded Ijis Publishing in 2010 and contributed to the digitalization of the publishing industry by publishing practical books on information technology (IT) and education. Twenty-four people, including Nam Sang-ho, CEO of Yesin Books; Mun Gyu-sik, CEO of Jangwon Education; and Kim Ju-won, CEO of Gungpyeonchaek, will receive commendations from the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
'Book Day' was established by the publishing industry in 1987 to commemorate October 11, 1251, the date the Goryeo Tripitaka was completed.
This year's ceremony is organized by the Korean Publishers Association and will be attended by Kim Young-soo, First Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Kim said, "We will actively support the discovery and use of publishing intellectual property (IP), overseas expansion, and the spread of reading culture, among other efforts."

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