Publication Promotion Institute Unveils 790 Recommended Titles for 2024 Sejong Book Project

The Korea Publication Culture Industry Promotion Agency announced 790 recommended titles for the 2024 Sejong Book Support Project on the 16th.

The Sejong Book project aims to encourage quality book publishing and improve reading culture. In July, the agency received 7,902 book submissions (2,399 academic titles and 5,503 general knowledge titles) through the announcement of the "2024 Sejong Book Support Project." After preliminary reviews by divisions and first and second recommendation committee evaluations, a final selection of 790 recommended books was confirmed, consisting of 363 academic titles and 427 general knowledge titles.

This year, to strengthen book recommendations from the reader's perspective, the agency publicly recruited recommendation committee candidates and expanded recommendations from librarians and library-related organizations, forming a committee of 180 members (71 academic and 109 general knowledge). Additionally, to recommend excellent books, the mandatory preliminary review period was extended to three weeks starting this year, and measures such as the introduction of a minimum passing score system for evaluation criteria and the abolition of the preliminary recommendation system were implemented to enhance the responsibility and fairness of book recommendations. The distribution method for recommended books will also be tailored to the characteristics of each distribution channel, with demand surveys allowing distribution points to directly select desired books. The agency plans to distribute approximately 310,000 copies to various libraries?including public libraries, small libraries, university libraries?as well as social welfare facilities, overseas Korean cultural centers, and Sejong Institutes starting early next year.

The chairperson of the academic division committee stated in the recommendation review, "While there were scholarly works with high academic value that creatively and deeply addressed specialized topics, it is encouraging that many books also inspire fellow scholars and are accessible to the public to broaden understanding of academic subjects." They added that this aligns well with the purpose of the Sejong Book project, which supports the expansion of modern citizens' cultural literacy through reading and the publishing culture industry.

The chairperson of the general knowledge division committee said, "The Sejong Books recommended this year are significant in that they combine both expertise and accessibility, making them easy for diverse readers to approach." They expressed hope that the recommended general knowledge books will serve as valuable foundations for better understanding the changes and issues of our time and for proactively planning the future.

The list of recommended books for the 2024 Sejong Book project and the recommendation reviews can be found on the Korea Publication Culture Industry Promotion Agency’s website and the Sejong Book online system.