Kim Tae-heon Elected Head of Korea Publishers Association, Pledges Book Fair Transparency

by Yoon Juhye Posted : February 24, 2026, 17:37Updated : February 24, 2026, 17:37
Kim Tae-heon, elected 52nd president of the Korean Publishers Association
Kim Tae-heon, elected 52nd president of the Korean Publishers Association. (Photo provided by the association)


Kim Tae-heon, CEO of Hanbit Media Co., was elected the 52nd president of the Korean Publishers Association.

The association held its 82nd regular general meeting at 2 p.m. on Feb. 24 at the Korea Press Center International Conference Hall and elected Kim to a three-year term.

Kim won the most votes among 351 member companies that cast ballots, out of 519 eligible voting members. His pledges include strengthening publisher-led policy capacity, rebuilding cooperation with the public sector, boosting the public nature and transparency of the Seoul International Book Fair while improving its business performance, and establishing the fixed book price system and a fair publishing distribution order.

“I will restore policy consultations with the government so the association can again play a central role in talks,” Kim said. He also pledged to build a joint response system against illegal copying. “We will strengthen the public nature and transparency of the Seoul International Book Fair and create a consultative structure involving multiple groups and publishers,” he added.

Kim serves as CEO of Hanbit Media. He has also served as president of the Korea Publishers Association of Korea, a director of the Korea Publishing Industry Promotion Agency, vice president of the Korean Publishers Association, and head of the SBI program at the Korea Publishers Association of Korea.

The nine members of the selection committee were Na Young-chan (Gijeon Research Co.), Kwon Hyuk-jae (Hakyeon Munhwasa), Joo Yeon-seon (EunHaengNamu Publishing), Kim Han-cheong (Dareun), Kang Il-woo (Pentacle), Lee Mi-rae (Cmas), Cho Hyung-joon (Saemulgyul), Ryu Won-sik (Kyomunsa) and Hong Young-tae (Business Books).
 



* This article has been translated by AI.