Defending Fixed Book Prices and Becoming First Directly Elected Chair... Lee Kwangho Named "Publisher of the Year"

Korean Publishers Society Announces Winners in Seven Categories
Creation and Criticism Wins Merit Award; Gunsan Book Fair Wins Special Award

Lee Kwang-ho, CEO of Moonji Publishing, has been selected for the top prize in the "2026 Publisher of the Year" awards. He was recognized for rallying voices across the publishing industry in response to revisions to the fixed book price system, training publishing professionals, and helping improve the way publishing organizations are run.

Lee Kwangho, CEO of Munhakgwa Jiseongsa, won the top prize in the “2026 Publisher of the Year” awards selected by the Korean Publishers Association. He was recognized for his contributions to efforts to maintain the fixed book price system, train publishing professionals, and introduce the direct election of the association’s chairperson. The Korean Publishers Association

The Korean Publishers Society, chaired by Hong Young-wan, announced the winners in seven categories on November 4.

In 2020, while serving as vice-chair of the Korean Publishers Society, Lee took part in efforts to preserve the fixed book price system in opposition to moves to relax it, including inviting author Han Kang. As director of the Seoul Book Institute (SBI), he helped strengthen the system for training publishing professionals. He also led efforts to introduce direct elections for the society's chair and was elected chair in its first direct election.

In his recommendation, Kim Hak-won, CEO of Humanist Publishing Group, described Lee as "someone who has not only produced good books but also protected and expanded the ecosystem in which books can thrive." He praised Lee as a leader who brought together diverse voices in the publishing industry and responded to change.

The Merit Award went to the quarterly literary magazine Creation and Criticism, which is marking its 60th anniversary. Founded in 1966, the magazine has addressed issues including democracy and division in Korean society through literary works and criticism. It was forcibly shut down by the new military regime in 1980 and resumed publication in 1988.

The Special Award went to the Gunsan Book Culture Development Center, which has run the Gunsan Book Fair, an independent publishing festival led by local bookstores. Founded in 2023, the center has worked with local bookstores since the following year to organize book markets, exhibitions, and workshops, presenting a new model for a locally centered book festival.

The Young Publisher Award went to Lee Hyunhwa, who runs the one-person publishing house Hyehwa 1117. Since founding the press in 2018, she has consistently published books of literary and scholarly merit in the humanities and arts, including "Lee Jung-seob: The Complete Picture of His Art." The award, previously called the Young Publisher Award for Individuals, was renamed the Young Publisher Award this year.

The Editing Award went to Park Hyejin, head of the Literature Team 2 at Minumsa. She has planned and edited works including the novel "Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982" and "An Anthology of Korean Women's Literature," and has served as editor-in-chief of the literary magazine Littor.

Go Unseong, head of the sales department at Dolbegae, was selected for the Marketing Award. Since joining Dolbegae in 2006, Go has served as chair of the Association of Humanities and Social Science Publishers and worked to develop publishing distribution and promote reading culture, including by organizing book festivals. The Design Award went to Ham Jieun, CEO of book design studio Sangnok. Ham, a former head of the design team at Open Books, has had books selected for "The Most Beautiful Books in Korea" in both 2024 and 2025.

The "Publisher of the Year" award recognizes publishing professionals who have contributed to the cultural and industrial development of publishing. Established in 2001, it is being presented for the 26th time this year. The awards ceremony will be held on December 1 at the "2026 Publishers' Night" event at the Amanti Hotel Seoul in Mapo-gu, Seoul.

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