On June 19, Shelly Lee, Project Manager at AustCham Korea, attended the Seoul International Book Fair (SIBF) alongside Hayley Lee, Business Development Manager from the Government of Western Australia, Seoul Office, supporting Western Australia’s presence at one of Korea’s premier literary events. The 2025 edition of SIBF featured a distinguished delegation from Creative Australia, highlighting the strength and diversity of Australia’s children’s and young adult publishing industry.

Among the delegation were leading figures such as Nerrilee Weir (Bold Type Agency), Marisa Pintado (Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing), Alexandra Yatomi-Clarke (Berbay Books), Annabel Barker (Annabel Barker Agency), Carey Schroeter (Allen & Unwin), and Kate McCormack (Magabala Books). Each of these professionals brought unique insights and experience, representing best-selling and award-winning titles, Indigenous literature, and dynamic visual storytelling.

During the event, Shelly met with Kate McCormack and learned more about Magabala Books’ mission to publish works by and about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. As Australia’s leading independent Indigenous publishing house, Magabala Books plays a vital role in preserving and promoting First Nations voices—an important message that resonated strongly throughout the fair.

The fair provided a platform for cross-cultural dialogue and partnership, reinforcing the growing potential for Australia–Korea collaboration in the creative sectors. AustCham Korea was pleased to connect with stakeholders in the Korean publishing industry and remains committed to facilitating opportunities in the arts, education, and creative content across both markets.