In 2021, the sales revenue of the South Korean publishing industry amounted to around 24.7 trillion South Korean won. This was the highest sales revenue recorded for the industry, and continues a trend of annual increases. After a few years of decline, the number of businesses in the publishing industry started to increase again.
Growing popularity overseas
With the rising popularity of South Korean content and products, the publishing industry saw an increasing trend in its export value. The highest figure was recorded in 2021, accounting for over 400 million U.S. dollars for the first time. According to a 2022 survey about the worldwide popularity of South Korean books and comics (manhwa), around 29 percent of respondents answered that books and manhwa were very popular in their country. Although books and manhwa were less popular than dramas, movies, and entertainment shows, Korean comics were generally perceived as more known than music content from South Korea. Malaysia especially showed the most interest in manhwa compared to other countries. Generally, cultural contents were more prevalent in Asia than in other parts of the world.
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Korea Creative Content Agency. (September 25, 2023). Sales revenue of the publishing industry in South Korea from 2014 to 2021 (in trillion South Korean won) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved September 20, 2024, from https://www-statista-com.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/statistics/1155044/south-korea-sales-revenue-publishing-industry/
Korea Creative Content Agency. "Sales revenue of the publishing industry in South Korea from 2014 to 2021 (in trillion South Korean won)." Chart. September 25, 2023. Statista. Accessed September 20, 2024. https://www-statista-com.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/statistics/1155044/south-korea-sales-revenue-publishing-industry/
Korea Creative Content Agency. (2023). Sales revenue of the publishing industry in South Korea from 2014 to 2021 (in trillion South Korean won). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: September 20, 2024. https://www-statista-com.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/statistics/1155044/south-korea-sales-revenue-publishing-industry/
Korea Creative Content Agency. "Sales Revenue of The Publishing Industry in South Korea from 2014 to 2021 (in Trillion South Korean Won)." Statista, Statista Inc., 25 Sep 2023, https://www-statista-com.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/statistics/1155044/south-korea-sales-revenue-publishing-industry/
Korea Creative Content Agency, Sales revenue of the publishing industry in South Korea from 2014 to 2021 (in trillion South Korean won) Statista, https://www-statista-com.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/statistics/1155044/south-korea-sales-revenue-publishing-industry/ (last visited September 20, 2024)
Sales revenue of the publishing industry in South Korea from 2014 to 2021 (in trillion South Korean won) [Graph], Korea Creative Content Agency, September 25, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www-statista-com.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/statistics/1155044/south-korea-sales-revenue-publishing-industry/