From SF to Webtoons: Korean Books Take Centre Stage in London
The Korean Cultural Centre UK (KCCUK), in partnership with the Korea Publication Industry Promotion Agency (KPIPA), successfully hosted the K-Book Festival at Foyles Charing Cross Road, one of London’s most historic and best-loved bookstores. Highlighting the depth and diversity of Korean publishing—from literature, cookery and essays to science fiction and webtoons—the festival introduced Korean stories to a wide British readership and strengthened cultural ties within the UK literary scene.
Held over the course of a month from October to November 2025, the festival transformed Foyles’ flagship London store into a dedicated Korean book showcase. A curated selection of translated literature, original Korean titles, cookbooks, essays and webtoons was displayed throughout the store, attracting close to 100,000 visitors.
This year marked a key milestone in KCCUK’s efforts to promote the creative potential, emotional resonance and genre variety of Korean publishing to international readers. By fostering meaningful engagement between authors, readers and the UK book industry, the festival played a pivotal role in widening access to Korean literature and storytelling.
Author-led Events Highlight the Creative Spectrum of Korean Publishing
Three special author events held during the festival drew significant public interest, illustrating the growing appetite for Korean content among British readers.
Judy Joo — Exploring the Global Flavours of Korean Cuisine (15 October)
Celebrated chef, broadcaster and cookbook author Judy Joo opened the festival with a conversation centred on her latest book, K-Quick: Korean Food in 30 Minutes or Less. She shared her perspective on Korean food’s evolution on the global stage, combining convenience with authentic flavour. Her insights offered audiences a deeper appreciation of both the culinary and cultural heritage of K-Food.
Min Song-A — K-Webtoons and the Future of Digital Storytelling (25 October)
Popular webtoon creator Min Song-A—known for Nano List, The Girl Next Door and Netflix-adapted Doona!—spoke about the rise of Korean digital storytelling, the changing landscape of webtoon platforms and the creative process behind her stories. Discussing the role of authenticity and artistic focus, she emphasised that while industry trends may shift, meaningful storytelling begins with characters and themes one truly believes in. Following the event, Foyles quickly sold out of Doona!—a clear sign of growing British interest in K-Webtoons.
Cheon Seon-Ran — Emotion, Technology and the Human Imagination (1 November)
Acclaimed sci-fi novelist Cheon Seon-Ran, author of A Thousand Blues, engaged audiences with thought-provoking reflections on humanity, technology and empathy. Exploring the question of what it means to be human through the lens of a robot capable of emotion, she highlighted the importance of both ethical and emotional considerations in a rapidly evolving digital age. Her talk resonated deeply with attendees, leading to lively discussion and meaningful audience engagement.
All three speakers held Q&A sessions and book signings, offering British readers the opportunity for direct interaction and demonstrating the relevance and accessibility of Korean storytelling in the UK context.
A Growing Bridge Between Cultures
The K-Book Festival proved to be more than a series of book talks—it served as a cultural bridge, highlighting Korea’s genre richness, artistic depth and emotional storytelling. By combining distribution, branding and reader engagement, the event demonstrated the expanding global potential of Korean publishing.
KCCUK will continue to develop programmes that strengthen communication with local audiences and build lasting cultural connections, ensuring that Korean literature and content continue to gain momentum on the international stage.
Seunghye Sun, Director of the Korean Cultural Centre UK, commented, “Here in London—the hub of the global publishing industry—Korean authors are sharing their stories across genres such as science fiction, webtoons and food, presenting the many facets of K-Culture deeply rooted in Korean aesthetics. Following author Han Kang’s Nobel Prize in Literature, interest in Korean women writers and their emotionally rich, candid storytelling has grown rapidly in the UK. The essence of K-soft power lies in the power of emotion.”
For more details, please visit https://kccuk.org.uk