Seoul International Book Fair 2026 to explore humanity's future in the age of AI

The Seoul International Book Fair (SIBF), the country’s largest literary festival, will return to Coex in southern Seoul next month — this time with a question hanging over every page: How should humans move forward in the era of AI?

Chinese and Korean female science fiction writers speak during the Seoul International Book Fair held in southern Seoul in June 2025. [SEOUL INTERNATIONAL BOOK FAIR]

The Seoul International Book Fair (SIBF), the country’s largest literary festival, will return to Coex in southern Seoul next month — this time with a question hanging over every page: How should humans move forward in the era of AI?

This year’s edition will mark the 68th edition of its kind. It will kick off on June 24 and run through June 28 at Coex, southern Seoul.

Under the theme of “Homo Duduri: A New Name for the Questioning Human,” the fair aims to guide visitors as they explore what it means to live as human beings in the AI era. Duduri is both a mythical figure and an old Korean term for a blacksmith, as found in historical texts, according to the Korean Publishers Association.

“We chose the name ‘Homo Duduri’ for humans who continue asking questions and expanding the boundaries of thought, rather than settling for the quick answers offered by AI,” the association said.

The event will bring together a wide range of Korean and international writers and creators for lectures, seminars and author talks, featuring participants from French novelist Bernard Werber to actor Kim Shin-rock.

This year’s fair is expected to accommodate more than 530 publishers, publishing-related organizations and literary agencies from 18 countries. The participating parties will operate booths and hold exhibitions, lectures and book-signing events.

France has been named the guest of honor as Seoul and Paris mark the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year. A special program tentatively dubbed “Reading France” will also take place, featuring 12 French writers and creators, including Werber, picture-book author Anne Laval and philosopher Pascal Bruckner.

Poster for the upcoming Seoul International Book Fair [SEOUL INTERNATIONAL BOOK FAIR]

A series of keynote lectures examining humanity and AI through a literary lens will feature novelists Eun Hee-kyung, Kim Ae-ran, Baik Sou Linne and Bora Chung, along with poets Oh Eun, Hwang In-chan and Ahn Mi-ok.

The fair’s seminar program on life in the AI era will include neuroscientist Chang Dong-seon, indie singer-songwriter Sunwoojunga, actor Kim Shin-rock, film composer Dalpalan of “The King’s Warden,” musician Sung Ki-wan and cartoonist Lee Jong-beom.

Among the international speakers are Korean American novelists Silvia Park and R.O. Kwon, Taiwanese writer Kevin Chen and Chan Wai, who worked on the screenplay for the 1996 film “Comrades: Almost A Love Story.”

The session where participants can meet book authors will feature Prof. Choe Jae-chun, who also leads the Biodiversity Foundation, social media influencer Lim La-la, Buddhist nun and chef Jeong Kwan and actor Shin So-yul.

Another program, tentatively translated, “SIBF Books,” will be hosted by novelists Chung Se-rang and Park Sang-young and poets Ko Sun-kyung and Kim Bok-hui. Venerable Sunjae, a Buddhist nun and master of temple cuisine, will also join the event.

Tickets will go on sale online in two rounds next month: early-bird sales from June 8 to 12; and regular advance sales from June 13 to 23. A limited number of tickets will also be available on-site each day of the event on a first-come, first-served basis.

Last year, all 150,000 admission tickets sold out during the early-bird sale alone, leaving some visitors unable to secure entry passes.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom. BY JEONG EUN-HYE [lee.soojung1@joongang.co.kr]