Korea takes K-book export drive to Southeast Asia as demand surges

Korean books are finding a growing audience far beyond Seoul, and now the government is betting that Southeast Asia could become the next major frontier for K-book exports. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Monday it would hold traveling book fairs in Hanoi and Bangkok this week as part of a broader push to expand the overseas market for Korean publishing content. The Hanoi event runs Sunday through Monday at the Grand Vista Hanoi Hotel, while the Bangkok fair will take place Wednesday through Thursday at the Amari Bangkok Hotel. The ministry said 20 Korean publishers, including MiraeN, Woori School, Woongjin Thinkbig and Hansol Soobook, will participate in export consultations with local publishers and media companies from Vietnam and Thailand. In total, 51 companies from Vietnam and 39 companies from Thailand are expected to join the meetings, alongside consultations involving 102 additional Korean titles represented through copyright agencies. The government said interest in Korean publishing content has risen sharply across Southeast Asia in recent years. In Vietnam, Ko