Embracing New Markets: Editorial Opportunities in South Korea

Editorial opportunities external to North America and the United Kingdom are rarely discussed in Canadian publishing. This report examines positions for native English-speaking editors in South Korean educational publishing companies. It first provides background on the prevalence of English-language education in South Korea and the booming educational publishing industry that has ensued. Next, it examines the need for native English editors within this industry while outlining the necessary qualifications they must have to gain employment. Included in this analysis is a case study of a large English educational publisher in South Korea called Neungyule Education Inc. and the study material it creates for the Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC) exam. This case study examines the role of the native editor in creating TOEIC test materials and illustrates how this specific role fits into the larger cultural mandate of learning English in South Korea.