By Reporter Anna Kim

First Lady Kim Keon-hee attended the opening ceremony of the largest domestic book festival, “the Seoul International Book Fair,” to promote the excellence of Korean books and to enhance the vitality of the publishing industry on June 14.

The First Lady congratulated the opening of the largest book festival in the country held at the COEX in Seoul and toured the exhibition hall, engaging with representatives from the publishing industry. Her presence aimed to promote the excellence of Korean books and contribute to the revitalization of the publishing industry.

Prior to the opening event, Kim visited the Sharjah pavilion of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which participated in this year's Seoul International Book Fair as the host country, and discussed ways to cooperate on exchanges in the book and cultural sectors with Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority. 

During her visit to the UAE in January, Mrs. Kim met with Minister of Culture and Youth Affairs Al Qaabi and Dubai Culture and Arts Authority Chairperson Latifa, agreeing to expand cooperation between the two countries' publishing and cultural industries through international book fairs.

Afterward, the first lady toured the SIBF Hall, where 'NONHUMAN', a limited-edition project book by 15 authors on the theme of the Seoul International Book Fair, was exhibited, and visited the 'Book Village', where independent publications and art books were displayed, to encourage the small and medium-sized publishing industry.

The Seoul International Book Fair, which aims to introduce the charm of K-books to the world, will be held for five days from June 14 to 18 under the theme of 'Nonhuman, Beyond Human'.