South Korea Print, Newspapers & Magazines Market Outlook

The south korean print, newspapers and magazines market outlook has changed significantly over the past two decades. in terms of market size, the south korean print market was estimated to be worth us$6.7 billion in 2018, representing an average annual growth rate of 3.5% since 2013. in the same period, the market for newspapers and magazines grew to around us$3.6 billion, with an average annual growth rate of 5.3%. against this backdrop, the market for print publications is expected to remain flat in the period 2018-2032. however, in terms of the nature of the market, there have been some substantial changes. distribution of publications has undergone significant shifts in recent years, with the growth of digital channels—such as tablets, mobile phones, ebooks, and digital newsstands—resulting in the erosion of traditional methods. this shift in distribution channels has transformed the south korean print market, allowing publishers to reach larger audiences through new platforms. in the newspapers and magazines sector, digital subscriptions (both physical and digital) surpassed physical paper subscriptions for the first time in 2018. at the same time, the trend of decreasing circulation and advertising revenues in south korean newspapers and magazines has continued to the present day. the reliance on digital platforms for both subscriptions and both print and digital advertising has led to an increase in competition in the market, with publishers dropping prices and creating innovative content forms to remain competitive. in terms of the outlook for the south korean print market through to 2032, a number of trends are expected to continue. despite the rate of decline in circulation and advertising revenues, demographic shifts in younger generations point to an expansion of readership figures across the country—with new digital-only titles likely to become increasingly common. publishers are also expected to focus further on enhancing interaction with readers through social media, online forums, and other online channels in order to develop loyalty and to ensure that their products remain relevant and attractive. finally, advertising on both print and digital channels is expected to remain a factor of importance. in particular, mobile advertising is forecast to take an increasingly large share of the revenue pie, further transforming the printing landscape in south korea.