Korean Literature Abroad and the Han Kang Effect — 2026-09-02
Korean publishers are launching a major offensive into the US market with the "Visiting Book Fair" in New York, connecting 15 domestic publishers with 40 American agencies. This initiative aims to secure foreign rights and IP expansion deals, building on the momentum of Korean literature’s 358 million cumulative overseas sales over the past five years.
Korean Literature Abroad and the Han Kang Effect — 2026-09-02
Top developments
New York "Visiting Book Fair" Connects 15 Korean Publishers with US Market
From September 2 to 3, 2026, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Publishing Industry Promotion Agency are hosting the "Visiting Book Fair" in Manhattan. The event facilitates one-on-one export consultations between 15 Korean publishing houses and approximately 40 American publishers and literary agencies. This strategic push aims to expand Korean literature's footprint in the world's largest publishing market by securing translation rights and exploring secondary IP expansions, such as film and television adaptations.
Korean Literature Sales Hit Record Highs Post-Nobel
Recent data indicates that translated Korean literature has achieved sustained commercial success, with overseas sales reaching approximately 1.2 million copies annually for two consecutive years. Over the five-year period from 2021 to 2025, cumulative sales of LTI Korea-supported translations reached 3.58 million copies, the highest on record. Han Kang’s We Do Not Part (No Goodbye) topped this list with roughly 300,000 copies sold abroad, cementing the "Han Kang Effect" as a primary driver for the sector's growth.
Global Expansion Focuses on Beyond Translation
The Korea Herald reports that while Han Kang’s Nobel Prize brought immediate attention to her works, the current industry focus has shifted toward sustainable reader bases and diverse genres. The New York fair specifically targets not just novel rights but also webtoons and broader publishing IP, reflecting a maturation of the "K-Lit" brand from niche literary interest to mainstream cultural export.
Local view
South Korean media outlets such as The Korea Times, Edaily, and Financial News have extensively covered the New York event, framing it as a critical state-supported intervention to capitalize on the post-Nobel interest spike. Stakeholders emphasize that while translation grants (LTI Korea) have successfully funded thousands of works, the current bottleneck is distribution and rights acquisition in major English-speaking markets.
Context & numbers
- Cumulative Overseas Sales (2021–2025): 3.58 million copies.
- Annual Overseas Sales: ~1.2 million copies for two consecutive years.
- Top Seller: Han Kang’s We Do Not Part (~300,000 copies).
- New York Fair Participants: 15 Korean publishers vs. 40 US agencies/publishers.
- Event Dates: September 2–3, 2026.
On the radar
- K-BOOK Festival Japan 2026: Applications for exhibitors are imminent, signaling continued strong interest in the Japanese market where Korean literature has deep roots.
- LTI Korea Grants: The agency continues to accept applications for translation and publication grants, with selection committees evaluating proposals based on genre and language group.
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