For Koreans outside Seoul the online event will make for easy participation, but the real benefits will come to publishers outside the country who are savvy enough to ride the media frenzy that will surround this event, and use the opportunity to connect with Korean publishing stakeholders and consumers

It was back in May that the Seoul International Book Fair, scheduled for June, was put on hold, as coronavirus cases soared, but even back then, when the idea of a hybrid or online alternative was being dismissed by many western book fairs, the Seoul organisers were promising a hybrid version for after in the year.

The Korean Publishers Association explained back in May,

International publishers will be able to meet their potential business partners all over the world online, instead of at their booths.

Seoul 2020 takes the theme “XYZ: Entanglement,” with the aim to,

explore the interconnected existence of generations and genders (adding) The planned forums on labor, LGBT, feminism and Anthropocene issues will be conducted with a small audience and livestreamed.

This week the Korean Publishers Association confirmed the event, now scheduled for October 16-25, will,

consist of both online and in-person exhibitions, and seminar and lecture programs (and to) offer experiences that traverse the online and offline worlds with books as intermediaries that connect the two worlds.

Korean Publishers Association chairman Yoon Cheol-ho explained:

We’re trying out something new for the first time so it should provide a unique experience for both publishers and book lovers.

The hybrid event will feed into the growing digitisation of the Korean publishing industry in a country at 96% internet penetration with 49 million people online.

TNPS took a look at the South Korea audiobook sector here.

Storytel KR grows 2.5 times against fierce competition during pandemic as South Korea audiobook market expands

For Koreans outside Seoul the online event will make for easy participation, but the real benefits will come to publishers outside the country who are savvy enough to ride the media frenzy that will surround this event, and use the opportunity to connect with Korean publishing stakeholders and consumers.