The Korean Book Fair opened in Ho Chi Minh City on July 24 for the first time.

Readers at the fair 

During the two-day event, 23 publishing houses from the Republic of Korea (RoK) and nearly 30 Vietnamese publishing houses and book enterprises are expected to discuss copyright purchase, thus helping diversify the themes and content of publications in Vietnam as well as contributing to tightening the two countries’ friendship.

Korean publishers focus on introducing books for children, on arts and tourism, e-books, and schoolbooks.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Director of the municipal Department of Information and Communications Duong Anh Duc said that the organisation of the book fair is crucial to boosting the development of the publishing industry in the two countries. 

According to Duc, Ho Chi Minh City is home to many firms operating in publishing and book distribution and is the largest consumer market of publications in Vietnam.

Therefore, through Korean books translated into Vietnamese, publishing houses in the city will give readers an insight into the RoK’s land and people, contributing to developing the two nations’ relations.

The Korean Book Fair was first held in Hanoi in 2017, connecting 73 publishers with business contracts worth 6.5 million USD.-VNA