SIBF - Seoul International Book Fair 2025
Coex Convention and Exhibition Center
Established in 1947, the Korean Publishers Association
is Korea’s oldest and largest private-sector organization and
covers all facets of the publishing industry.
The KPA seeks to develop the publishing industry and aid it in contributing to society, collaborating with authors, and building a new reading culture.
It is active in the various sectors of education, research, policy development, festivals, copyright exchange, and more to pursue its tasks of advancing the publishing industry and defending the freedom to publish. Publishing and the freedom to publish are the cradle of democracy and books are the foundation of civilization.
By identifying various ways to distribute books, the KPA endeavors to ensure that no one falls through the cracks in society. Drawing upon the strength and purpose of its approximately 700 full member companies and 2,000 associate member companies, the KPA is always exploring new potential in publishing to respond to the rapidly changing media environment as well as climate change.
Seoul International Book Fair(SIBF)
Launched in 1954,
the Seoul International Book Fair has been
Korea’s biggest book festival for nearly 70 years.
This delightful event connects those who make books with those who read them, bringing together publishers, writers, scholars, artists, editors, and readers with the purpose of sharing knowledge and information.
In 1995, the SIBF was upgraded from a national to an international book fair. Since then, it has expanded into the fields of cultural diplomacy and trade, promoting Korean books in other countries and promoting other countries’ books in Korea. As Korea continues to see cultural, artistic, and academic growth, the SIBF has become established as one of the world’s leading book fairs and one of the best-known book fairs in Asia.
The SIBF also organizes Korean Pavilion and “Guest of Honor” events at international book fairs such as Taipei International Book Exhibition and FILBo(́International Book Fair of Bogota). It promotes exchange by bringing the world to Seoul and introducing Korean books and culture to the world.
We believe that beyond this one small step lies a place where we will work to counteract worsening inequality, reverse climate change, and combat the unrestricted development that has brought about not only climate change but infectious diseases such as COVID-19. We will warmly embrace each other, but digital technology will also enable us to meet more frequently even from afar. We want to believe that the thoughts we share in these encounters will guide us to a better world. Needless to say, we are not so naive as to think that these goals will be achieved easily. In taking our one small step, we will sometimes lose ground and at other times falter. But as difficult as it may be, unless we move forward, we have no future.
