Park Han-sol reports on Korea's financial regulators, along with fintech and insurance. She previously wrote about the art world, from biennales and exhibitions to fairs and auctions, with a focus on Seoul and the figures shaping the scene. Before joining The Korea Times, she spent a year at ABC News' Seoul bureau, contributing to coverage of major Asia-Pacific events.
Korea stages its biggest showcase at Bologna Children’s Book Fair
A rendering of the Korean pavilion's "Authors from Korea" section at this year's Bologna Children’s Book Fair in Italy / Courtesy of Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism
By Park Han-sol
The Korean pavilion at this year’s Bologna Children’s Book Fair in Italy will be staged on its biggest scale yet.
Now in its 62nd edition, the Bologna event, running from Monday to Thursday, remains the world’s largest international book fair and trade show dedicated to children’s literature.
The Korean pavilion, organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Publication Industry Promotion Agency of Korea, will bring together 40 domestic publishers alongside a diverse lineup of authors.
A special “Authors from Korea” section is set to feature 69 original illustrations and standout titles from 15 Korean picture book creators. Among them, Kim Dong-soo (“To Do List”), Luly (“They Never Made It to Bremen”), Bamco (“Prepping Anchovies”), Seo Hyun (“Rice Cake House of a Tiger”) and Ahn Kyoung-mi (“Masked Nights”) will engage with readers on-site through book talks and signing sessions.
Also in the spotlight are other acclaimed works and writers — Lee Geum-yi, a nominee for the 2026 Hans Christian Andersen Award; “If You Want to Eat a Red Apple” by writer Jin Joo and photographer Lee Ga-hee, the first Korean title to claim the BolognaRagazzi Opera Prima Award; and Han Dam-hee’s “Star Papa,” the winner of the BolognaRagazzi Cross Media Award.
Following the fair, the culture ministry will donate the exhibited books to language schools and universities across Italy to foster greater awareness of the Korean language and literature.
Looking ahead, the ministry, working in partnership with the Korean Board on Books for Young People, will continue initiatives to expand the global reach of Korean picture books, from distributing them to schools and libraries in key cultural hubs to championing the country’s authors in prestigious literary awards.