Over 30 Publishing Organizations Agree to Form Joint Committee to Defend Fixed Book Price System

More than 30 representatives from publishing-related organizations held a meeting on the 7th at the auditorium of the Korea Publishing Culture Association and decided to form a "Joint Countermeasure Committee to Defend the Book Fixed Price System." [Photo by Korea Publishing Culture Association]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] More than 30 organizations related to publishing, including publishers, bookstores, authors, and reading groups, have agreed to form a 'Joint Countermeasure Committee to Defend the Book Fixed Price System.'

On the 7th, representatives from these organizations held a meeting at the main auditorium of the Korea Publishers Association, condemning the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's move to nullify the discussions of the public-private consultative body aimed at improving the book fixed price system and to reconsider the issue from scratch. They decided to form a joint countermeasure committee to respond actively going forward.

The attendees expressed their frustration, stating, "Recently, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has ignored the consensus reached through 16 rounds of public-private consultative meetings, postponed the schedule to sign the agreement, and suddenly announced a review of the book fixed price system. They have even rejected proposals to reactivate the consultative body for further discussion."

Regarding the key issue of exempting e-books from the book fixed price system, they emphasized, "If tax exemption benefits are to be received, it is only proper to adhere to the book fixed price system."

The participating organizations plan to establish a 'Joint Countermeasure Committee to Defend the Book Fixed Price System,' composed of representatives from each group, to devise concrete response measures.