In the Age of AI Answers, Books Raise Questions... Seoul International Book Fair Opens June 24

Held at COEX from June 24 to 28

France as Guest of Honor, Over 530 Publishers from 18 Countries Participating

In an era where AI delivers answers instantaneously, this year's Seoul International Book Fair seeks to rediscover the role of humans in "asking questions." The largest book festival in Korea, the "2026 Seoul International Book Fair," will be held from June 24 to 28, 2026, at COEX Hall A&B1 in Gangnam-gu, Seoul.

The largest book festival in Korea, the "2026 Seoul International Book Fair," will be held from the 24th to the 28th of next month at COEX Hall A&B1 in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Korea Publishers Association

According to the Korea Publishers Association and the Seoul International Book Fair on May 25, this year's theme is "Declaration of Humanity Homo duduri." "Duduri" refers both to a mythical figure from ancient Korean literature and to the old name for a blacksmith. The book fair proposes the term "Homo duduri" to describe humans who, in an age when AI rapidly provides high-probability and efficient answers, do not simply settle for those answers but continue to ask questions.

The theme statement itself reflects the nature of the book fair in the age of artificial intelligence (AI). Novelist Kim Yeon-su co-authored the theme statement with AI models "Claude Sonnet 4.6" and "Gemini 3." Kim Yeon-su selected ten literary classics exploring human existence, engaged in dialogue with AI, and developed the statement through this process. This journey is featured in a special limited-edition book, "Declaration of Humanity: Homo duduri," to be released at the fair. The book also contains writings by 11 contributors, including Kim Yeon-su, Jang Kang-myeong, poet Ahn Tae-woon, and music critic Bae Soon-tak.

This year, the guest of honor country is France. To mark the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and France, the guest of honor program is themed "Reading France." Twelve French writers and experts will participate in the fair, including novelist Bernard Werber, children's author Marie-Aude Murail, philosopher Pascal Bruckner, and picture book artist Anne Laval, all familiar to Korean readers. The French guest of honor pavilion will feature 23 publishers and organizations.

This year's book fair will welcome more than 530 publishers, publishing organizations, and copyright agencies from 18 countries, including Korea. The International Pavilion will host booths run by over 180 publishers and organizations from 17 countries and regions, including France, Germany, Canada, Taiwan, Singapore, and the United States. In addition, 12 selected publishers from 10 countries—such as Türkiye, the United Kingdom, Indonesia, Mongolia, and Vietnam—will meet with Korean publishing professionals at the Copyright Center.

Within the domestic exhibition hall, there will be a book market, book exhibitions, lectures, and book signings. "Book Village," which showcases art books and independent publications, will feature participation from 110 independent publishers. The Taiwan Independent Publishing Association, Japan Independent Publishing Expo, and Singapore Art Book Fair will also take part, highlighting the trends in Asian independent publishing.

The lecture program will focus on the relationship between AI, humans, and books. Featured speakers for the "Theme Lecture" include novelists Eun Hee-kyung, Kim Ae-ran, Baek Su-rin, Jeong Bora, Lee Joo-hye, Park Sun-woo, as well as poets Oh Eun, Hwang In-chan, and An Mi-ok. The "Theme Seminar" will bring together neuroscientist Jang Dong-sun, musician Sunwoo Jung-a, actor Kim Shin-rok, novelist Jang Ryu-jin, music director Dalparan, and musician Seong Gi-wan to discuss human thought and creativity in the age of AI.

There will also be programs featuring international authors. Jisun Park, author of "Luminous," winner of the LA Times Book Prize in the SF Fantasy & Wonder category, will hold a dialogue with Korean SF author Kim Choyeop. Ohkyung Kwon, author of "Incendiaries" and one of The New York Times' "Four Writers to Watch," will meet with novelist Pyun Hye-young. Taiwanese author Chen Sihong and Chan Wai, the script planner for the film "Comrades: Almost a Love Story," will also take part in book talks.

The "Meet the Author" program will feature Choi Jae-chun, head of the Biodiversity Foundation; creator Lim Lara; Buddhist monk Jeonggwan; actor Shin So-yul; picture book author Lee Su-ji; musical "Laundry" scriptwriter Chu Min-joo; photographer Lee Ok-to; and novelist Hwang Boreum. The "SIBF Book" program will introduce new works to readers by novelists Jeong Serang and Park Sang-young; poets Ko Seon-kyung, Kim Bok-hee, An Hee-yeon, and Yu Sun-hye; and temple cuisine master monk Sunjae.

The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs will present the "Kim Gu Special Exhibition" to commemorate the "2026 UNESCO Anniversary of the 150th Birth of Kim Gu." There will also be an interactive program where visitors can read Kim Gu's writings and compose their own declarations.

The book fair will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. from June 24 to 27, and from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on the final day, June 28. Admission will close 30 minutes before the fair ends each day. Adult tickets are priced at 12,000 won, and youth tickets at 6,000 won. Early bird tickets will be available for purchase from June 8 to 12, followed by regular tickets from June 13 to 23. This year, same-day tickets can also be purchased both on-site and online.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.