The Korean Publishers Association has a membership of 620 publishers in Korea and is the main voice of the nation's publishing industry and organizes the Seoul International Book Fair as well as Korean collective stands in the various international book fairs including the 2014 London Book Fair. It also publishes the "Korean Publishing Journal" and "Korean Publication Yearbook".^[1]

Work

The KPA organizes the five-day Seoul International Book Fair, which celebrates its 20th anniversary on June 18 to coincide with the opening. Aside from raising awareness about the importance of reading among Koreans and promoting the Korean publishing industry to the world, the fair aims to facilitate the international book trade. Last year, over 25 countries, 610 exhibitors and 129,210 visitors attended the fair.^[2]

History^[3]

Jun. 2006 Official inauguration of the Organization Committee of the 2008 IPA Publishers Congress, Seoul Opening of the Books from Korea website (www.koreabooks.net)
The 12th Seoul International Book Fair
May. 2006 Mr. NA, Choon-ho renewed his Presidency of the Asian Pacific Publishers Association
Apr. 2006 Formation of the Organizing Committee and the executive committee of the 2008 IPA Publishers Congress, Seoul
Nov. 2005 Open forum on the prospectus of the foundation of the Korea Publishing Council
Oct. 2005 Korea, the Guest of Honour at the 2005 Frankfurt Book Fair
Jun. 2005 The 11th Seoul International Book Fair
Feb. 2005 Korea, the Guest of Honour at the 2005 Taipei International Book Fair
Mr. PARK, Maeng-ho elected as the 45th President of the Korean Publishers Association
Oct. 2004 Launch of the ‘Korean Publishing Culture Awards’
Jun. 2004 Formal announcement of the 2008 IPA Congress to be held in Seoul, Korea
The 10th Seoul International Book Fair
Mar. 2004 Korea, the Guest of Honour at the 2004 Bangkok International Book Fair
Oct. 2003 Official inauguration of the Korean Organizing Committee for the Guest of Honour at the 2005 Frankfurt Book Fair
Feb. 2003 Monthly magazine “Publishing Journal” re-launched
Enactment of the “Publishing and Printing Industry Promotion Act”
26 Aug. 2002 Promulgation of the “Publishing and Printing Industry Promotion Act”
Oct. 2001 Became a member of the executive committee of the International Publishers Association
30 May. 2001 Hosted the Annual General Meeting of the Asian Pacific Publishers Association
Jan. 2001 Launch of the Modernization of the Book Distribution System (three-year project)
Aug. 2000 Mr. NA, Choon-ho elected as the president of the Asian Pacific Publishers Association
Jun. 2000 Establishment of the Korea Reprographic & Translation Rights Center
25 Jun. 1999 Launch of the Homepage of the Korean Publishers Association at www.kpa21.or.kr
Oct. 1999 “Books from Korea” published
Sep. 1998 “50 Years of History of the Korean Publishers Association” published
17 May. 1995 Launch of the Seoul International Book Fair
26 Jan. 1994 Became a member of the Asian Pacific Publishers Association
25 Aug. 1992 1993 designated as the “Book Year”
11 Oct. 1987 11 October designated as “National Book Day”
Dec. 1987 “40 Years History of the Korean Publishers Association” published
Jun. 1984 Launch of “The Selection of This Month's Books for Youth”
Feb. 1983 Launch of “The Korea Science & Technology Book Awards”
Mar. 1980 Launch of “The Korea Children's Book Awards”
Jun. 1975 Establishment of the Publishing Culture Hall
Jan. 1962 KPA commissioned as an agency for the legal deposit of books
Apr. 1957 Became a member of the International Publishers Association
26 Mar. 1952 KPA approved as a corporate juridical person by the Government
Feb. 1948 Launch of the monthly magazine “Chulpan-Munhwa” (Publishing Culture)
15 Mar. 1947 Foundation of the Korean Publishers Association

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