AI kiosks and chatbots are transforming book discovery and reading in South Korea

In South Korea, AI-driven technologies are transforming the way readers find and interact with books. The startup Flybook has placed an AI kiosk in a library to suggest titles tailored to individual preferences. Millie's Library provides an AI chatbot that responds to inquiries about books, such as the symbolism of fish in Lulu Miller's "Why Fish Don't Exist" (2020), linking to pertinent excerpts. Kyobo Book Centre's app includes Trend+, an AI recommendation feature. These innovations signify a significant change in reading behaviors, fostering personalized exploration and engagement with literature. On Oct. 13, 2024, the Seoul Metropolitan Government inaugurated an outdoor library at Gwanghwamun Square to encourage public reading. Additionally, the Seoul Int'l Book Fair addressed disparities between human and 'nonhuman' entities. Recent literary highlights include Han Kang's celebration of the Spanish release of 'The Wind Blows, Go' in Barcelona, and Lee Mirinae discussing her inspiration for her well-received novel about North Korean defectors. Although children's author Lee Geum-yi did not win the Hans Christian Andersen award, she views the shortlist as an honor. Insights into essential trends were shared by the author of 'Trend Korea 2023', and Busan University of Foreign Studies released a new guide for international students about Korean society.