
In recent years, there has been a growing tendency for books that are bestsellers in South Korea to become hits in Japan, and vice versa, for books that are popular in Japan to become hot topics in South Korea. A representative of a publishing company that pioneered the Korean book market in Japan talks about the current situation in Japan and Korea. Kim Seung-bok, CEO of Cuon Inc. Japan and South Korea have become competitive societies ——In 2019, Mr. Kim Soohyun’s essay Watashi wa Watashinomamade Ikirukotonishita (I decided to live as me [original title: 나는 나로 살기로 했다 (2016)]) (Wani Books Co., Ltd., 2019), which Ms. Kim was involved in translating and publishing, was published in Japan and became a bestseller with a cumulative circulation of 550,000 copies (1.8 million copies worldwide). Why do you think Korean “picture essays” have become such a big ... ... [Read more]