<San 239> (publisher OIMU, designer Shin Sohyeon) won a Bronze Medal in the 2026 World’s Most Beautiful Book competition, the Korean Publishers Association said on the 13th.
The Bronze Medal ranks fourth, after the top Golden Letter award and the gold and silver medals. The “World’s Most Beautiful Book” competition is jointly run by Germany’s Stiftung Buchkunst and the Leipzig Book Fair.
<San 239> is a small book measuring 50 millimeters wide, 68 millimeters tall and 20 millimeters thick. It is fitted with a carabiner and a compass so it can be clipped to a bag or belt. Each page introduces one of 239 mountains on the Korean Peninsula, listing practical information for hikers such as location and elevation, whether it is among Korea’s “100 famous mountains,” guidance on what to do when encountering wild animals, and first-aid tips.
German organizers said the book “goes beyond something to read” and can serve as a companion on the trail, noting that it packs a sweeping subject — 239 Korean mountains — into a format small and light enough to carry anywhere. They also cited the balance of text, images and illustrations in conveying extensive information clearly within limited space, calling it an object in which every element is precisely designed.
Designer Shin Sohyeon of OIMU said, “More than half of Korea is made up of mountains, and most mountains are open to everyone,” adding, “If you enjoy hiking, I hope you’ll clip this book to your bag and we’ll meet on the mountain.”
Judging for the 2026 competition was held Feb. 19-21 at the German National Library by an international design jury of five designers. A total of 14 books from nine countries were selected as final winners.
The awards ceremony will be held at 4 p.m. local time March 20 at the Leipzig Book Fair.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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