Reading Ecosystem Public Solidarity: "The Seoul International Book Fair's 'Reliable Foundation' Is Public Value"

Reading Ecosystem Public Solidarity Press Conference
Condemning the Privatization of the Seoul International Book Fair

On the morning of June 18, the Reading Ecosystem Public Solidarity held a press conference in front of the East Gate of COEX in Gangnam, Seoul, where the Seoul International Book Fair is being held. Under the slogan "The Seoul International Book Fair's 'reliable foundation' is its public nature," the group strongly condemned attempts to turn the book fair into a corporation, to privatize it, and to commercialize it.

On the morning of the 18th at 9:30 AM, the Reading Ecosystem Public Solidarity held a press conference in front of the East Gate of COEX in Gangnam, Seoul, condemning the privatization of the Seoul International Book Fair. Reading Ecosystem Public Solidarity

At the press conference, poet Song Kyungdong (Secretary General of the Writers Association of Korea) and Lee Kwangho, Chairman of the Korean Publishers Association, spoke out, sharply criticizing attempts to undermine the public nature of the Seoul International Book Fair.

Song Kyungdong stated, "So far, more than 6,000 authors, publishers, booksellers, and cultural and arts professionals have participated in a solidarity petition opposing the privatization of the Seoul International Book Fair." He pointed out, "As the Reading Ecosystem Public Solidarity, we requested the Korean Publishers Association and the Seoul International Book Fair Corporation to participate in a forum for restoring public value, but not once did they respond to our proposal."

He added, "I feel devastated by the reality that a few individuals, including Yoon Chulho, Chairman of the Korean Publishers Association, believe they can privatize an event that has been built together by all members of the reading ecosystem, like the Seoul International Book Fair."

Chairman Lee Kwangho said, "I hope the Seoul International Book Fair continues to grow and becomes an event in which all members of the reading ecosystem participate together." He continued, "The core value that enables the success of the Seoul International Book Fair is precisely 'publicness.' The reading ecosystem, and furthermore the cultural ecosystem, cannot be driven solely by power and market logic. We will continue to raise our voices together and strive to ensure that this call leads to the restoration of public value."

Afterwards, Oh Bitnari, Chairperson of the Writers Union Preparatory Committee; An Miran, Executive Director of the Children's and Youth Book Writers Solidarity; Lee Jungeun, Secretary General of the National Neighborhood Bookstore Network; and An Chansu, Executive Director of the Book Reading Society Cultural Foundation, read out a statement.

The Reading Ecosystem Public Solidarity announced, "During the Seoul International Book Fair, we plan to continue activities to raise social awareness of the need to restore public value to the book fair by distributing posters, leaflets, and stickers together with participating organizations."