Seoul International Book Fair 2016
Bibliophiles, beware. One of the biggest annual literary events in the country is taking place and ready to consume all your attention and money. Attracting publishers as well as families, students and book-enthusiasts, the five day affair held a bit of a lag last year due to the event changing dates last minute. However, under the slogan “Let’s get to know each other through books and design the future” the festival is back and it’s fiercer than ever. As usual, publishers will have small booths with books (often discounted) available for purchase, reading events and activities for children, and networking events and seminars for those looking to get more involved in the book industry. Special attention will be paid to design, typography, illustrations and graphics, a trending topic within the publishing community right now.
Must-see SIBF happenings
Meet Your Book Mentor: “The Best Writing is the Poem I’ll Write Tonight”
Although contemporary poet and SIBF’s 2016 Writer of the Year, Shin Dal-ja will be partaking in the 2016 Culture Salon (a discussion with writers like Yoon Dae-nyeong, Kwon Bee-young and Jung Yoo-jung on June 15, 4:30pm), this event will zoom in on Dal-ja, her story and her advice on writing. Dal-ja, who used poetry and writing as a form of consolation after her husband of 24 years passed away and battling cancer herself, will speak under the theme of “The Best Writing is the Poem I’ll Write Tonight.” .
June 17, 1pm.
Culture Spotlight on designer John Gall
If you’ve ever picked up a vintage looking copy of one of Murakami’s novels, then you probably know John Gall’s work – even if you don’t know him by name. Vice president and art director for Vintage Books and Anchor Books, John will be giving seminars on the publishing industry here in Korea. You can hear all about what it’s like to work with some of the biggest authors like Margaret Atwood, Don DeLillo and Haruki Murakami and publishing houses like Alfred A. Knopf, Farrar, Straus and Giroux and Grove Press.
Dates and times TBA.
Gutenberg Museum Exhibition
You don’t have to travel all the way to Mainz, Germany to see what’s on display at the Gutenberg Museum. As a part of a special exhibition at the SIBF, you’ll get to see 73 manuscripts brought all the way to Seoul from one of the oldest printing museums in the world. As eBooks, Kindles and audiobooks become increasingly popular in this day of digital reading, come explore the old school way of paper-print.
Design Book Wall Award
Some of the biggest names in illustration and calligraphy collaborated on this wall which is on display at the SIBF.
Tea-Time with international professionals
Using the SIBF as your chance to network and meet other people in the industry? Just curious about what it’s like to work in publishing? This is your chance to meet people and make connections.
June 16, 3pm.