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PHOTOS Readers flock to Seoul Int'l Book Fair amid 'text hip' trend

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By Kwon Mee-yoo
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Visitors queue to enter the 2025 Seoul International Book Fair (SIBF) at COEX in southern Seoul, Wednesday morning. This year's book fair features over 530 publishers and publishing-related organizations from 17 countries. Newsis

Visitors queue to enter the 2025 Seoul International Book Fair (SIBF) at COEX in southern Seoul, Wednesday morning. This year's book fair features over 530 publishers and publishing-related organizations from 17 countries. Newsis

Visitors queue to enter the 2025 SIBF at COEX in southern Seoul, Wednesday. This year's edition is themed 'The Last Resort,” a reflection on the things we cling to with hope when everything else feels uncertain. Newsis

Visitors queue to enter the 2025 SIBF at COEX in southern Seoul, Wednesday. This year's edition is themed "The Last Resort,” a reflection on the things we cling to with hope when everything else feels uncertain. Newsis

Visitors browse books on display at the 2025 SIBF at COEX in Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap

Visitors browse books on display at the 2025 SIBF at COEX in Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap

Visitors take a look at the theme exhibition 'The Last Resort' during the 2025 SIBF at COEX in Seoul, Wednesday. This year’s theme invites readers to explore how books reflect resilience and resistance amid emotional, economic and political crises. Newsis

Visitors take a look at the theme exhibition "The Last Resort" during the 2025 SIBF at COEX in Seoul, Wednesday. This year’s theme invites readers to explore how books reflect resilience and resistance amid emotional, economic and political crises. Newsis

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Rex How, chairperson of Taiwan's Locus Publishing Company and director of the Taipei Book Fair Foundation, delivers a speech during the opening ceremony of the 2025 (SIBF) at COEX in Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap

Rex How, chairperson of Taiwan's Locus Publishing Company and director of the Taipei Book Fair Foundation, delivers a speech during the opening ceremony of the 2025 (SIBF) at COEX in Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap

Visitors explore the Taiwan pavilion at the 2025 SIBF at COEX in Seoul, Wednesday. Taiwan is this year's guest of honor country at the book fair, with the special pavilion highlighting the theme of “Taiwanese Sensibility' and featuring 84 publishers and over 500 curated titles. Yonhap

Visitors explore the Taiwan pavilion at the 2025 SIBF at COEX in Seoul, Wednesday. Taiwan is this year's guest of honor country at the book fair, with the special pavilion highlighting the theme of “Taiwanese Sensibility" and featuring 84 publishers and over 500 curated titles. Yonhap

Visitors read books during the 2025 SIBF at COEX in Seoul, Wednesday. The fair is drawing record crowds amid the rise of the “text hip” trend that reflects the growing perception of reading as stylish and culturally cool. Yonhap

Visitors read books during the 2025 SIBF at COEX in Seoul, Wednesday. The fair is drawing record crowds amid the rise of the “text hip” trend that reflects the growing perception of reading as stylish and culturally cool. Yonhap

Visitors look at publishers' merchandise at the 2025 SIBF at COEX in Seoul, Wednesday. Publishers promote books and reading culture not only through traditional books but also with various merchandise at the fair. Newsis

Visitors look at publishers' merchandise at the 2025 SIBF at COEX in Seoul, Wednesday. Publishers promote books and reading culture not only through traditional books but also with various merchandise at the fair. Newsis

Former President Moon Jae-in greets readers who visited the Pyeongsan Books booth during the 2025 SIBF at COEX in Seoul, Wednesday. The former head of state runs an independent bookstore in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province, where he now lives. Yonhap

Former President Moon Jae-in greets readers who visited the Pyeongsan Books booth during the 2025 SIBF at COEX in Seoul, Wednesday. The former head of state runs an independent bookstore in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province, where he now lives. Yonhap