Busan is good

Busan Metropolitan City to Host the “2025 Busan International Children’s Book Fair,” Korea’s Only Children’s Book Exhibition, from December 11

내용

Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that it will host the “2025 Busan International Children’s Book Fair,” Korea’s only international fair dedicated to children’s literature, at BEXCO Exhibition Hall 1 from December 11.

Now in its second year, the Busan International Children’s Book Fair serves as both a global festival of children’s book culture and a platform for children’s content. The four-day event will run from December 11 to 14 at BEXCO Exhibition Hall 1.

The inaugural fair in 2024 featured 193 participating organizations from 16 countries (137 domestic and 56 overseas) along with 118 authors and speakers (107 domestic and 11 overseas). More than 150 side programs were held, attracting 50,291 visitors.

This year’s fair, held under the theme “The Young Ones and the Sea (Bringing together books about the sea to create a sea of books)”, will feature a special exhibition of 400 children’s books and participation from over 160 publishers from home and abroad, offering diverse and enriching programs.

2025 Busan International Children’s Book Fair

• ●Period / Venue: December 11 (Thu) – December 14 (Sun), 2025 / BEXCO Exhibition Hall 1

• ●Main Events: Opening ceremony, special exhibitions, publishing and copyright (IP) market, and auxiliary events

• ●Scale: Over 160 publishers, approximately 60,000 expected visitors

• ●Purpose: To enhance the international competitiveness of Korean children’s books, vitalize the local publishing industry, and broaden children’s access to reading culture in the region

• ●Organizer / Co-organizer: Korean Publishers Association / Seoul International Book Fair, BEXCO

• ●Supported by: Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Busan Metropolitan City

The fair will begin with an opening ceremony and include book exhibitions, author talks (book talks), a copyright (IP) market, author autograph sessions and fan meetings, as well as various experiential programs. These activities aim to give children the opportunity to express their creativity freely through books and experience the unique beauty and joy of children’s literature in diverse ways.

Notably, this year’s program will feature lectures and talks by prominent domestic and international authors, including Jin Joo and Ka Hee, authors of “If You Want to Eat a Red Apple,” the first Korean book ever to win the Opera Prima Grand Prize at the Bologna Ragazzi Awards — widely known as the “Nobel Prize of children’s literature.” Jordan Scott, author of “I Talk Like a River,” selected by The New York Times as one of its “Best Illustrated Children’s Books of the Year,” will also hold a book talk and workshop. Through such programs, visitors will gain a deeper and more diverse appreciation of children’s books.

In addition, the fair will feature exhibitions by more than 160 publishers, a publishing and copyright (IP) market, and interactive programs such as workshops and events for children. These programs will go beyond the joy of reading to create an expanded “book-play” culture.

Free admission tickets can be obtained by pre-registering on the official website (bicbf.or.kr) between November 12 and December 10. For detailed information, please visit the website or contact the event organizer at 02-733-8402.

Jo Yoo-jang, Director General of Culture at Busan Metropolitan City, stated, “The Busan International Children’s Book Fair is a place of exchange where publishers, authors, and readers come together around books to share experiences and promote Korean children’s literature to the world. We hope this fair will offer children a valuable opportunity to unleash their boundless imagination through books and invite citizens to join us in this celebration of reading.”