The Korean Cultural Centre UK (KCCUK) partnered with the Korea Publication Industry Promotion Agency (KPIPA) to present the K-Book Festival 2025 at Foyles Charing Cross Road, one of Britain's most renowned bookstores. The month-long celebration of Korean publishing culture ran from mid-October to mid-November 2025, serving as a key component of the 2025 K-Book Global Promotion and Exchange Programme designed to introduce British readers to the vibrant world of Korean literature and content.
Located in the heart of London, which stands as a global center for publishing, the festival showcased the diversity and creativity of Korean publishing to international audiences. The event featured an impressive range of genres including contemporary literature, culinary arts, and webtoons, providing unique opportunities for direct engagement between Korean authors and British readers. Visitors to Foyles discovered a carefully curated selection of English-language books about Korea, translated Korean literary works, and original publications in Korean.
The festival kicked off on Wednesday, October 15, with a special culinary event featuring Chef Judy Joo, a celebrated television personality, restaurateur, and global ambassador for Korean cuisine. Chef Joo presented her latest cookbook, "K-Quick: Korean Food in 30 Minutes or Less," sharing recipes that combine quick preparation techniques with the authentic depth and complexity of traditional Korean flavors. Drawing from her multicultural background and extensive global experience, she discussed how Korean food has evolved while preserving its traditional foundations, offering insights into the cultural significance and modern transformation of Korean cuisine. The opening evening concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session and book signing, where audiences enjoyed stories, culinary insights, and flavors from Chef Joo's gastronomic journey.
On Saturday, October 25, the festival continued with acclaimed webtoon creator Min Song-A, known for popular works including "Nano List," "The Girl Next Door," and as the original author behind the Netflix hit series "Doona!" Min Song-A engaged with British readers in a comprehensive discussion about the global phenomenon of Korean webtoons. During the session, she shared behind-the-scenes stories about the digital storytelling process, the evolution of webtoon platforms, and explained how Korean webtoons have successfully crossed cultural boundaries to captivate international audiences worldwide. The talk provided fresh perspectives on creativity, authorship, and fan engagement, emphasizing the powerful and influential role that webtoons play in today's global Korean storytelling industry.
The literary portion of the festival reached its peak on Saturday, November 1, with an intimate conversation featuring acclaimed novelist Cheon Seon-Ran, author of "A Thousand Blues." Her award-winning novel, which received the Grand Prize at the 4th Korean Science Literature Awards in 2020, tells a poignant story about the relationship between a robot capable of human emotion and the people in its life. The book has recently been optioned by Warner Bros. for film adaptation, demonstrating the growing global appeal and reach of Korean speculative fiction. Cheon Seon-Ran discussed how her writing explores themes of emotion, technology, and identity, inviting readers to reflect on the human condition through the powerful lens of imagination and empathy. The audience responded with great enthusiasm, participating in a meaningful conversation that transcended both genre boundaries and language barriers.
The K-Book Festival 2025 successfully introduced the creative spectrum of Korean publishing to mainstream British audiences, spanning from contemporary literature and culinary arts to innovative digital storytelling formats. By showcasing the remarkable diversity of Korean content, the festival highlighted both the global competitiveness and cultural depth that characterize Korea's modern publishing industry. Through this strategic collaboration with Foyles, the KCCUK significantly expanded its partnership within the UK's literary community, strengthening valuable networks between publishers and readers while establishing a solid foundation for sustained cultural exchange between the two nations.
Seunghye Sun, Director of the Korean Cultural Centre UK, reflected on the festival's success, stating, "The K-Book Festival, held in the United Kingdom—the land of great literary and publishing traditions—became a new platform where the aesthetics of Korean culture resonated emotionally with global readers. Through literature, cookery, and webtoons, we shared the creativity and imagination that define K-Culture with English-speaking audiences. Our collaboration with Foyles, a bookstore with over 120 years of history, laid the foundation for K-Books to reach not only the UK but also the wider Commonwealth. The KCCUK will continue to nurture exchanges that allow Korean literature and content to be loved at the heart of global culture."
