Kyobo says overseas bulk orders of Korean books may be for AI training
Kyobo Book Centre reported receiving bulk inquiries for as many as 100,000 different Korean‑language titles, each with only one copy. The requests came from about ten overseas companies, most of them based in the United States, according to a Kyobo source cited by the JoongAng Ilbo. Kyobo said the pattern – buying a single copy of many distinct titles – differs from ordinary purchases and could…
Key points
- Kyobo received bulk orders for up to 100,000 different Korean titles, each one copy, from about 10 overseas companies.
- Companies refused to disclose final recipients or purpose, leading Kyobo to end talks over possible AI‑training use.
- Korean Publishers Association will send letters, form a consultative body, and join a joint “Frankfurt Appeal” urging AI firms to disclose training data.
A similar approach was noted in August when an Arizona‑based firm approached Yes24’s used‑book division and Seoul Book Bogo, seeking one copy of each title while excluding children’s books. The Korean Publishers Association responded by planning letters to bookstores, a consultative body, and a joint “Frankfurt Appeal” that urges AI companies to disclose which works they train on. The appeal follows a precedent where a Japanese distributor sold new books to Anthropic, and a U.S. court found Anthropic had used such books for AI training.
AI companies are harvesting and destroying Korean books
koreajoongangdaily.com · 14 October 2026
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