RH Korea

RH Korea (알에이치코리아) is a major South Korean book publisher headquartered in Gasan-dong, Geumcheon-gu, Seoul. It was established in 2004 as Random House JoongAng (랜덤하우스중앙), a joint venture between Bertelsmann's Random House and JoongAng M&B, the publishing arm of the JoongAng Ilbo media group. The company became the Korean legal entity of Random House and grew into one of the country's largest trade publishers, connected to a global network of some 170 publishers in 17 countries. In 2006 it separated from JoongAng M&B and was renamed Random House Korea Co., Ltd. (랜덤하우스코리아㈜), becoming a wholly foreign-owned company. In November 2009 RHK Holdings Co., Ltd. was established, and in February 2010 Random House, Inc. divested its stake, with RHK Holdings acquiring 100% of Random House Korea. In January 2012 the company changed its name to RH Korea Co., Ltd. (㈜알에이치코리아). RH Korea publishes across practical, leisure, travel, women's, biography, education, and literature categories, and has claimed the top domestic market share in several of these segments. It operates several imprints, including Junior RHK (children's and young adult), Do and Be Contents (두앤비콘텐츠, language learning), Ad Fontes (아드폰테스, Christian books), and Random Kids (children's series). Its CEO is Yang Won-seok (양원석), a former chairman of Random House Asia who has also served as international managing director of the Korean Publishers Association and president of the Asia Pacific Publishers Association (APPA). The company's best-known publications include "My North Korean Cultural Heritage Exploration" by Yoo Hong-jun, "Mathematics Vitamin" by Park Kyung-mi, "Don't Laugh, This Is My English Book" by Moon Deok, and translations of international titles such as Barack Obama's "The Audacity of Hope" and "Dreams from My Father."

RH Korea's history begins with the 2003 establishment of JoongAng M&B Publishing Co., Ltd. (중앙M&B 출판㈜), a trade book publisher and subsidiary of JoongAng Ilbo. In January 2004, Random House and JoongAng M&B formed a joint venture named Random House JoongAng (랜덤하우스중앙㈜). The company started as Random House's Korean legal entity and built a network with about 170 publishers in 17 countries, becoming the largest trade book publisher in South Korea. In June 2005, Yang Won-seok, then Chairman of Random House Asia, took office as CEO. In July 2006, the company separated from JoongAng M&B and changed its name to Random House Korea Co., Ltd. (랜덤하우스코리아㈜), becoming a wholly foreign-owned company. That same year it acquired and merged with Noble House and Bluebook in August, and with Minseogak in November. In March 2007, Yang Won-seok became CEO (concurrently Chairman of Random House Asia). In November 2009, RHK Holdings Co., Ltd. (㈜알에이치케이홀딩스) was established. In February 2010, Random House, Inc. divested its stake, and RHK Holdings acquired 100% of Random House Korea. In October 2011, a dedicated sales company, Chulpannyeongin Co., Ltd. (출판명인㈜), was established, taking over the sales and marketing departments from Random House Korea. In January 2012, the company changed its name to RH Korea Co., Ltd. (㈜알에이치코리아) and rebranded some of its imprints. After the separation from Random House, JoongAng Ilbo launched JoongAng Books in early 2007 to re-enter the publishing market. RH Korea has continued to publish a wide range of titles and maintains imprints such as Junior RHK, Do and Be Contents, Ad Fontes, and Random Kids.

• 2012

  Company renamed RH Korea Co., Ltd. and some brand names changed.

• 2011

  Chulpannyeongin Co., Ltd. established as dedicated sales company; sales and marketing departments transferred.

• 2010

  Random House, Inc. divested; RHK Holdings acquired 100% of Random House Korea.

• 2009

  RHK Holdings Co., Ltd. established.

• 2007

  Yang Won-seok appointed CEO (concurrently Chairman of Random House Asia).

• 2006

  Company renamed Random House Korea Co., Ltd. after separation from JoongAng M&B; became wholly foreign-owned.

• 2006

  Acquired and merged with Noble House and Bluebook.

• 2006

  Acquired and merged with Minseogak.

• 2005

  Yang Won-seok, Chairman of Random House Asia, appointed CEO.

• 2004

  Random House JoongAng Co., Ltd. established as a joint venture between Random House and JoongAng M&B.

• 2003

  JoongAng M&B Publishing Co., Ltd. established as a trade book publisher and JoongAng Ilbo subsidiary.

Leading South Korean trade publisher with global network roots, strong in practical, travel, children's, and language learning categories.

• 2001

  My North Korean Cultural Heritage Exploration (나의 북한 문화유산답사기)

• 2003

  Mathematics Vitamin (수학 비타민)

• 2005

  Don't Laugh, This Is My English Book (웃지마! 나 영어책이야!)

• 2007

  The Audacity of Hope (담대한 희망)

• 2007

  Dreams from My Father (내 아버지로부터의 꿈)

• 2006

  The Long Tail (롱테일 경제학)

• 2009

  The Host (호스트)

• 2009

  The Snowball (스노볼)

• 2012

  Quiet (콰이어트)

• 2013

  How Will You Measure Your Life? (당신의 인생을 어떻게 평가할 것인가)

1. 1RH Korea - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2알에이치코리아 - Korean Wikipediako.wikipedia.org