Bookdam Journal
Scenes from the 2026 Seoul International Book Fair
Bookdam ·
Every early summer, COEX becomes a place where books and people gather at once.
The 2026 Seoul International Book Fair was no exception. Large houses, indie presses, and overseas publishers shared one floor—alongside experiences beyond the page: writing letters, limited goods, and author events.
This piece is based on photos and experiences from a visitor to the fair, gathered here by Bookdam.
Photos and on-site experience shared by a fair visitor
Stepping onto the floor
The hall is larger—and busier—than it looks from outside.
Wooden booths line the red carpet. In a single aisle you can move from world literature to art and humanities. People browse, crouch at low shelves, wait in line. That alone explains why the fair feels like a festival of books.
From major houses to indie presses
Novels, essays, humanities, children’s books, religion—the range is wide, and so are the covers.
Some booths draw crowds with discounts and limited merch; others with signings or first releases. At popular stands, waiting can take longer than browsing.
Indie and art-book corners move at a different tempo. Thin cracker books, photo-heavy editorials, postcards and stationery side by side—these shelves make you slow down.
Experiences beyond the books
The fair is more than rows of spines.
Spaces like the “Post Office Between the Pages” invite you to write a letter—at a slower pace than a digital message. Passing standing desks full of people writing, you catch another kind of conversation between books and readers.
Author-inspired fragrances and limited keychains stand out too. The fair is also a place to keep books close, not only to buy them.
Tips before you go
On opening day, the wait for an entry wristband can be long. Once you’re inside, the crowd makes sense.
The floor is big and full. A few small habits make the day easier.
- Wear comfortable shoes. You’ll walk, stand, and walk again.
- Bring a small fan and water. Crowded aisles get warmer and thirstier than expected.
- Note the books you want and buy them at the end. Carrying stacks while browsing is harder than it sounds.
- Popular new titles and limited goods can sell out early. Plan your route if something is a must.
Keeping the books and lines you meet
In a single day you meet more covers and sentences than you can hold. Left only in a camera roll, they blur within days—which book was that, again?
If you want one place for books to read, books in progress, and lines that stayed with you, try Bookdam. It’s a simple way to keep what you found at the fair—and find it again later.
Keep the lines that stayed with you
Save books, passages, and the moment you met them—in Bookdam.