Ginkgo Press
Corporate brand
UnclaimedSouth Korean independent publishing house founded in 1997, known for literary fiction, the World Literature Prize, and its Ginkgo, Treasure Chest, and Fandom imprints.
Last updated September 26, 2026
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Overview
Ginkgo Press (은행나무출판사) is a South Korean independent publishing house founded on 8 December 1997 in Mangwon-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul. It takes its name from the ginkgo tree, whose leaves and fruit are both useful and which is highly resilient — a metaphor the publisher uses for books that leave a lasting impression on readers. Its motto is 'books that read the times and the future, books that are fun and deeply moving.' The company publishes a broad range of titles: Korean and international literary fiction, essays, humanities and general knowledge, self-help, and business and economics books, as well as practical titles. Its flagship imprint, <은행나무> (Ginkgo), carries the main literary and general list. A children's imprint, originally launched in 2001 as '은행나무 아이들' (Ginkgo Children) and renamed '보물상자' (Treasure Chest) in 2008, publishes picture books, fairy tales, and educational titles. A third imprint, '팬덤' (Fandom), launched in November 2004, focuses on popular fiction and tie-in novels for television dramas and films. Ginkgo Press is particularly associated with the World Literature Prize (세계문학상), a Korean literary award for which it publishes the winning full-length novels. Winners have included Jung You-jeong's <내 심장을 쏴라> (2009) and <7년의 밤> (2011), Lim Seong-sun's <컨설턴트> (2010), Kang Hee-jin's <유령> (2011), and Jeon Min-sik's <개를 산책시키는 남자> (2012). The publisher has also brought major international authors to Korea and hosted their promotional events, including Japanese writers Shuichi Yoshida and Hideo Okuda, British author Alain de Botton, and Chinese author Wang Anyi. The house has a notable record in rights exports. Its 2005 series of novels, comics, and children's books based on the television drama <대장금> (A Jewel in the Palace) was exported to Japan, Thailand, China, and Taiwan, and the series became a bestseller in China and Taiwan. Other commercial successes include Hong Myung-bo's memoir <영원한 리베로> (2002), which reached number one on national bestseller lists, and Okuda Hideo's <공중그네> (A Trapeze), a national bestseller in Korea. Ginkgo Press has been based at 384-12 Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul since April 2004. It remains a private, independent publisher and continues to release literary fiction, general non-fiction, and children's books under its three imprints.
History
Ginkgo Press was established on 8 December 1997 in Mangwon-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul. Its first title, published in January 1998, was <A Strategy for the Seoulite to be a Successful Farmer>. In May 1999 it published Lee Won-ho's novel <A Korean>, and in July 1999 it moved its offices to Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu. In July 2000 the publisher released Kim Min-ki's novel <You Engraved on My Heart>. In 2001 it launched a children's book brand, 'EunHaeng NaMu Children' (은행나무 아이들), and published its first children's title, <Christmas With Anne and Other Holiday Stories> by Lucy Maud Montgomery. In May 2002 it published Hong Myung-bo's memoir <Eternal Libero> (영원한 리베로), which reached number one on national bestseller lists. In September 2002 it published Jung Bi-seok's novelized <Sun Tzu: The Art of War> (소설 손자병법), which in December 2003 was selected as an outstanding e-book by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. In October 2003 Ginkgo Press published a novel, a picture book, and a comic book based on the hit television drama <A Jewel in the Palace> (대장금). In April 2004 the company moved to its current premises at 384-12 Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, and in November 2004 it launched a new popular-fiction brand, 'Fandom' (팬덤). In 2005 the <A Jewel in the Palace> series was exported to Japan, Thailand, China, and Taiwan, becoming a bestseller in China and Taiwan; that same year Okuda Hideo's novel <A Trapeze> (공중그네) became a national bestseller in Korea and was named Book of the Year by netizens on Kyobo Books and Naver. In February 2006 the publisher hosted a book signing by Japanese writer Shuichi Yoshida. Its title <A Romantic Movement> was selected as Book of the Month by the Korea Publication Ethics Commission and received several year-end citations. In June 2007 the entire staff held a workshop in Singapore, and in November 2007 the publisher founded a supporter group called 'Wagle' (와글). In June 2008 the staff held a workshop in Taiwan, and the children's book brand was renamed 'Treasure Chest' (보물상자). In March 2009 Japanese author Shuichi Yoshida visited Korea for media interviews and the Boranabi Translation Award ceremony; in May 2009 the publisher released Jung You-jeong's <Shoot My Heart> (내 심장을 쏴라), the winner of the 5th World Literature Prize, and hosted Yoshida's reader signing and a Seoul International Book Fair dialogue. In September 2009 Chinese author Wang Anyi visited Korea for a press conference, and in November 2009 Henry Chesbrough, author of <Open Innovation>, visited Korea. In April 2010 Lim Seong-sun's <The Consultant> (컨설턴트), winner of the 6th World Literature Prize, was published, and <Happiness Doesn't Come Alone> was named a Book of the Year by Interpark. In June 2011 the author Jung You-jeong was invited to the Seoul International Book Fair; the staff held a workshop in Cambodia; in July 2011 Kang Hee-jin's <Ghost> (유령), winner of the 7th World Literature Prize, was published; and in September 2011 British author Alain de Botton visited Korea for lectures with Interpark and Naver and a signing at the Wow Book Festival. Jung You-jeong's <The Night of Seven Years> (7년의 밤) was named a Book of the Year by major bookstores including Kyobo Book Centre and by major newspapers such as Chosun Ilbo and Donga Ilbo. In March 2012 Jeon Min-sik's <The Man Who Walks the Dog> (개를 산책시키는 남자), winner of the 8th World Literature Prize, was published. Ginkgo Press remains an independent private publisher based in Seogyo-dong, Seoul, publishing under its Ginkgo, Treasure Chest, and Fandom imprints.
- 2012
Published Jeon Min-sik's <The Man Who Walks the Dog>, winner of the 8th World Literature Prize.
- 2011
Published Kang Hee-jin's <Ghost>, winner of the 7th World Literature Prize; hosted Alain de Botton's Korea visit; Jung You-jeong's <The Night of Seven Years> named a Book of the Year.
- 2010
Published Lim Seong-sun's <The Consultant>, winner of the 6th World Literature Prize.
- 2009
Published Jung You-jeong's <Shoot My Heart>, winner of the 5th World Literature Prize; hosted visits by Shuichi Yoshida and Wang Anyi.
- 2008
Staff workshop in Taiwan in June; children's book brand renamed 'Treasure Chest'.
- 2007
Staff workshop in Singapore in June; founded the reader supporter group 'Wagle' in November.
- 2006
Hosted a book signing by Japanese writer Shuichi Yoshida in February; <A Romantic Movement> named Book of the Month by the Korea Publication Ethics Commission.
- 2005
Exported the <A Jewel in the Palace> series to Japan, Thailand, China, and Taiwan; Okuda Hideo's <A Trapeze> became a national bestseller.
- 2004
Moved to current premises at 384-12 Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu in April; launched the 'Fandom' popular-fiction brand in November.
- 2003
Published novel, picture book, and comic book of the TV drama <A Jewel in the Palace>; <Sun Tzu: The Art of War> named an outstanding e-book by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
Products and positioning
Independent Korean publisher of literary fiction and general non-fiction, positioning itself around 'books that read the times and the future, books that are fun and deeply moving.'
1998
A Strategy for the Seoulite to be a Successful Farmer
1999
A Korean (by Lee Won-ho)
2000
You Engraved on My Heart (by Kim Min-ki)
2001
Christmas With Anne and Other Holiday Stories (by L. M. Montgomery)
2002
Eternal Libero (by Hong Myung-bo)
2002
Sun Tzu: The Art of War (novelized by Jung Bi-seok)
2003
A Jewel in the Palace series (novel, comic, children's book)
2005
A Trapeze (by Hideo Okuda)
2006
A Romantic Movement
2009
Shoot My Heart (by Jung You-jeong)
2010
The Consultant (by Lim Seong-sun)
2011
Ghost (by Kang Hee-jin)
2011
The Night of Seven Years (by Jung You-jeong)
2012
The Man Who Walks the Dog (by Jeon Min-sik)
Sources5 sources
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