Incheon Metropolitan City is the '2015 World Book Capital' designated by UNESCO.
☞ This is the first time the event is to be held in our country, the 15th time the event has been held throughout the world and the 3rd time in Asia.

ㅁ Concept World Book Capital
o UNESCO has fixed April 23rd as the 'World Book and Copyright Day', and in order to celebrate this, it has selected a world capital city each year as the world book capital and allots 5 contents every year for the occasion. The event was held for the first time in Madrid, Spain in 2001.
* 5 contents: Africa / Arab / Asia-Pacific / Europe-North America / Latin America-Caribbean Sea


- April 23 was designated as 'World Book Day' at a general meeting of UNESCO in 1995, and the aim was to promote the publication of written material and stimulate reading among populations.
- Historically, the date marked the occasion of 'St George's Day', when flowers were presented to people reading books in Catalonia in Spain, and it also signifies and commemorates the death day of Cervantes and Shakespeare in 1616.

ㅁ Role of World Book Capital
o It is the key city for domestic/overseas exchanges and book culture events related to the copyright, the publication culture industry, creation and etc. and jointly with UNESCO for 1 year from April 23, 2015 to April 22, 2016, all the events related to books and reading will be managed and supervised.

ㅁ Major World Book Capital Developments
o Dec. 11, 2012: Launching of the executive division for the world book capital
o Apr. 23, 2013: Submitted application for nomination by selecting the subject title: 'World becoming one through books (Books For All)'
o Jul. 19, 2013: Selected as the capital of 2015 World Book
o Nov. 9, 2013: Opened commemorativ world book capital
o Feb. 5, 2014: Executed the vision stratege events to promote selection as they establishment service for the world book capital event
o Mar. 7, 2014: Opened public hearing on how to successfully conduct the world book capital event
o Mar. 31, 2014: Launching of the executive committee for the world book capital
o Apr. 8, 2014: Operation of Incheon Public Information Hall, world book capital for London International Book Fair
o Oct. 8, 2014: Conclusion of the business agreement to promote the culture and publication industry of Incheon (Incheon Metropolitan City ↔ Organizing Committee for Frankfurt Book Fair)

ㅁ Business Plan for 2015 Book Capital (Proposal)
o Established plan to carry out some 10 projects for the book capital programs such as opening ceremony (April 23), International Children's Education Book Fair (During May) and etc.

※ Record of World Book Capital Status

Year	Name of Nation	Name of City	Remarks
2001	Spain	Madrid
2002	Egypt	Alexandria
2003	India	New Delhi
2004	Belgium	Antwerpen
2005	Canada	Montreal
2006	Italy	Torino
2007	Columbia	Bogota
2008	Netherlands	Amsterdam
2009	Lebanon	Beirut
2010	Slovenia	Ljubljana
2011	Argentina	Buenos Aires
2012	Armenia	Yerevan
2013	Thailand	Bangkok
2014	Nigeria	Port Harcourt
2015	Republic of Korea	Incheon