URBANBOOKS

What URBANBOOKS does

URBANBOOKS (어반북스) is a South Korean independent creative studio that operates at the intersection of publishing, branding, space design, and goods manufacturing. Founded around 2013–2015 and headquartered in Hanam-si, the company self-publishes the Urbanlike city-archive magazine (46 issues across ten years), the Urban Live per-city travel and local-business magazine series, the Retour photography book line, and the 문장수집가 (Sentence Collector) themed book series under its Atelier de Edito content label. It also operates the Urbanbookshop (도시서점) edited retail concept store in Seoul's Gangnam district, which curates books, stationery, and branded merchandise, and hosts Reading Room popups and exhibitions with recurring creative partners.

On the B2B side, URBANBOOKS provides editorial design, brand book production, space design, and content creation services to enterprise and public-sector clients across Korean beauty (OLIVEYOUNG, Aritaum, Sulwhasoo, Hera, Aesop, La Prairie), fashion and lifestyle (CustomMellow, Couronne, Veronica For London, Granhand), retail (Hyundai Department Store), paper manufacturing (Hansol Paper), advertising (Innocean Worldwide), and government (Seoul Metropolitan Government 감각서울 series, Ministry of Unification). Its B2C revenue is generated through sales of books, the Book Band original product (registered under Korea's Design Protection Act, No. 30-1124104), knit coasters, glass cups, bookmarks, and mugs, distributed via its own e-commerce site and three Korean curated marketplaces (29CM, EQL, W CONCEPT), plus the physical Urbanbookshop store.

The company is privately held with no disclosed funding, parent company, or institutional investors, and lists 1–10 employees. Pricing across publications ranges from approximately 12,000 to 40,000 KRW (~$9–$30) per book, with branded goods at 16,000 KRW. The business model combines project-based B2B creative services with unit-priced B2C publishing and merchandise, supported by an integrated in-house creative pipeline and a stable network of recurring design, photography, and venue collaborators.

Name

URBANBOOKS

Legal name

URBANBOOKS

Website

https://urbanbooks.co.kr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

URBANBOOKS is a South Korean independent creative studio that publishes the Urbanlike city-archive magazine and related book series, produces branding and editorial content for fashion, beauty, and government clients, and sells curated books and branded goods through its Urbanbookshop concept store and online marketplaces.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent Publishing & Creative Services

NAICS

Book Publishers (51313), Periodical Publishers (51312), Book Retailers and News Dealers (4592)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)

akta.pro primary industry

Lifestyle, Travel & Leisure Books Publishing (MPAJAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Art, Photography & Illustrated Books Publishing (MPAJAAAF), Genre & Category Publishing (Romance, Mystery/Thriller, Sci‑Fi/Fantasy, etc.) (MPAJAAAB), General Bookstores (New Books) (CRALAAAA)

Keywords

• Creative publishing services
• Brand book production
• Editorial design
• City archive magazine
• Curated retail concept store

Headquarters

HQ city

Gyeongju

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Publishing and Book Sales: Publishing and selling books, magazines (Urbanlike, Urban Live, Retour series), and book series like 문장수집가 through direct channels and marketplaces
2. Branding and Creative Services: Providing branding, editorial design, space design, and content creation services to enterprise clients including fashion brands, beauty companies, government organizations, and luxury brands
3. Goods and Merchandise: Manufacturing and selling branded goods including mugs, coasters, bookmarks, pencils, and stationery items
4. Space Operations (Urbanbookshop): Operating their own retail space 'Urbanbookshop' (도시서점) for direct sales and pop-up events

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

URBANBOOKS is a Korean independent publishing and creative-services company that publishes its own magazines and books (Urbanlike, Urban Live, Retour, 문장수집가) and provides branding, editorial design, publishing, and space-design services to enterprise clients in fashion, beauty, luxury, and government. It also operates Urbanbookshop (도시서점), an edited retail concept store, and manufactures original branded goods (Book Band, mugs, bookmarks, coasters, glass cups) sold through its own site and third-party marketplaces.

Product overview

URBANBOOKS is a Korean publishing and branding company that operates as a multi-product creative platform. The company publishes the city archive magazine Urbanlike (biannual publication), the local travel magazine Urban Live (city-specific editions), and the photography book series Retour. Under the Atelier de Edito content label, they publish the book series 문장수집가 (Sentence Collector) featuring themed quote collections. The company also operates 도시서점 (Urbanbookshop), an edited retail space, and manufactures original goods including book bands, mugs, bookmarks, coasters, and glassware as commemorative merchandise tied to their publications. Additional products include stand-alone books on Seoul lifestyle and food essays, as well as commissioned city branding publications for clients like the Seoul Metropolitan Government.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Urbanlike: City archive magazine published by Urbanbooks, documenting urban culture and lifestyle
• Urban Live
• Urbanbookshop (도시서점)
• Atelier de Edito
• 문장수집가 (Sentence Collector)

Products and services

• Urbanlike Magazine City archive magazine documenting urban culture, lifestyle, architecture, and design, published periodically with themed issues (e.g., Urbanlike No.46, 10th anniversary). Targeted at design-conscious urban readers and used as a portfolio piece for B2B clients.
• Urban Live Magazine Series Local business and travel magazine series with each issue dedicated to one city (e.g., Kyoto, Osaka, Bangkok, Tokyo, Hong Kong, New York), featuring editorial coverage of local businesses, restaurants, shops, and lifestyle spots. For urban readers and travel/design enthusiasts.
• 문장수집가 (Sentence Collector) Book Series Themed book series collecting meaningful sentences and quotes (titles include Soul Mate, Last Words, Book Lover, Small Success), published under the Atelier de Edito content label with supporting merchandise. For readers seeking curated quote collections.
• 도시서점 Urbanbookshop (Edited Retail Space) Edited retail concept store at Seoul Gangnam-gu Nonhyeon-ro 26-gil 43, offering selected books, stationery, and goods organised into sections (Identity, Writing Table, Editions, Stamp Collection, Inspiration, Supply), and hosting reading-room projects and pop-ups. Operating since 2017.
• Retour Photography Book Series Photography book series capturing urban landscapes of cities through photographers' perspectives, focused on the theme of 'return' and travel (e.g., Retour Vol.1 Los Angeles, Retour Iceland edition). For photography and design enthusiasts.
• Book Band Original Book strap/band made from artificial leather for carrying books or organising items. Available in beige/grey, wine/ivory, brown/navy color combinations. Original URBANBOOKS product with registered design protection (Design Registration No. 30-1124104) priced at 16,000원.
• 문장수집가 유리컵 (Sentence Collector Glass Cup) Handcrafted glass cup with typographic designs featuring quotes from the 문장수집가 No.3 BOOK LOVER edition. Commemorative merchandise sold under the Sentence Collector line.
• 문장수집가 머그컵 (Sentence Collector Mug) Mug cup featuring quotes from the Sentence Collector book series, produced as commemorative merchandise.
• 필름 북마크 (Film Bookmark) Transparent acrylic bookmarks designed to look like film strips, featuring photography from the Retour Iceland edition. Commemorative stationery merchandise.
• 니트 코스터 (Knit Coaster) Knit material coasters in various color combinations, produced as commemorative merchandise for the Sentence Collector Book 3 'Book Lover' edition.
• 노블리스트 (The Novelist) - Translated Publication Translated novel by Jordan Castro (NPR's Book of the Year 2022), translated by Ryu Han-kyung, 252 pages. A meta-fiction work on writing and creativity.
• 이 도시를 사는 법 (Living in This City) Standalone book featuring interviews with 30 notable professionals from brands like Naver, 29cm, and Baemin about Seoul living and lifestyle insights. 126x190mm format, priced at 18,800원.
• 푸른 호수 밤 시나몬롤 (Blue Lake Night Cinnamon Roll) Urban essay documenting life experiences from Copenhagen, written by a former NOMA food director about Nordic food culture and lifestyle. 125x210mm, priced at 17,500원, by author 김성은.
• 감각서울 (Gamgak Seoul) City Branding Book Seoul city branding book series featuring themed issues like 'Han River' and 'Green', developed jointly with AKP Seoul for the Seoul Metropolitan Government's communication team. Commissioned city-branding publication.
• 나의 샐러드 (My Salad) Food Drawing Essay Book Food drawing book series under the Atelier de Edito label, featuring illustrated salads and food-related essays with artist collaborations. New edition released in 2023.
• B2B Branding, Publishing & Space Design Services Custom creative services for enterprise clients: editorial design, brand book production, publishing services, space design, and content creation. For fashion brands, beauty companies, government organisations, department stores, and luxury brands (e.g., Oliveyoung N'S PAPER, Sulwhasoo global brochures, Hyundai Department Store gift curation, Seoul 감각서울 city branding).

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MYKC (Design Studio)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing design partnership for various projects including Urbanlike magazine design and client branding work. MYKC has been a consistent collaborator on multiple projects including Urbanlike No.46.
• 아틀리에 드 에디토 (Atelier de Edito)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerURBANBOOKS' own content label focused on lifestyle exploration, responsible for 문장수집가 series and food drawing books including 나의 샐러드.
• 29CMminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOnline marketplace channel partner for 도시서점 (Urbanbookshop) products.
• EQLminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOnline marketplace channel partner for 도시서점 (Urbanbookshop) products.
• W CONCEPTminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOnline marketplace channel partner for 도시서점 (Urbanbookshop) products.
• 땡스북스 (Thanksbooks)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on popup exhibitions including <404개의 문장들> exhibition and special edition goods. Long-standing partnership since 2015 with Book Club collaborations.
• MMKminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for URBANLIKE x MMK popup exhibition featuring ceramics from 물질세계, 오유우, 예림피스 (2023.03.03-03.12).
• SAKIminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArtist collaboration for 나의 샐러드 popup and book launch event at Sand Pebbles wine bar (2023.07.29-08.03).
• 아키프서울 (AKP Seoul)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint project for Seoul City brand book 감각서울, handling planning, direction, and production for No.1 한강 and No.2 초록 editions.
• 땡스북스 (Thanksbooks)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint popup exhibition <404개의 문장들> at THANKSBOOKS location (서울특별시 마포구 양화로6길 57-6) from 2023.05.30 to 2023.07.10.
• 한남동 블루스퀘어minorOthersVenue partner for 쿠론 Maison de Couronne 2015 lifestyle fair exhibition.
• 이노션 월드와이드 (Innocean Worldwide)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResponsible for planning and production of Innocean's in-house magazine Life is Orange from 2017, including issues No.25-28.
• 무지 (MUJI) and UDSminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint field talk event MUJI x UDS discussing urban and hotel design with architect Nakajima Norito.
• 하우스 오브 므스크 (House of MSK)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVenue partner for Urbänlike Edition X Haus of MSK popup, selling Urbanlike Edition products including pajamas.
• YAECAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTokyo fashion brand collaboration for Urban Live No.3 Tokyo launch and Reading Room 5th popup.
• RYSE HotelminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint field talk event for Urbanlike No.37 'Hello Hotel' launch with brand director James Schwab.
• 민희기 (Photographer)minorOthersPhotography work for Sulwhasoo fragrance collection visualization project.
• 에디션덴마크 (Edition Denmark)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner for 푸른 호수 밤 시나몬롤 book launch gathering at Edition Denmark showroom (서울 종로구 자하문로9길 24).

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Monocle: Globally recognized independent media brand producing city-focused magazines (Monocle's city guides), books, and retail products. Directly comparable in city-archive editorial format, branded goods, and multi-channel distribution.
• Kinfolk: Independent lifestyle and design publication from Copenhagen producing books, magazines, and branded goods with a design-led aesthetic. Comparable in lifestyle editorial positioning, branded merchandise, and city-aspiration themes.
• The Gentlewoman: Independent fashion and lifestyle magazine producing books and branded content with a refined editorial voice. Comparable as an indie publisher combining fashion/luxury client collaborations with own-brand publications.
• Wallpaper*: Design and lifestyle magazine with strong B2B commercial partnerships and city/design coverage. Comparable in design-archive editorial model and agency-adjacent content production.
• Magazine B (매거진비): Independent Korean monthly magazine covering Korean brands, design, and culture with a strong curated-retail component (Magazine B Shop). Closely comparable as a Korean independent editorial brand that publishes books and operates branded retail.
• Cereal Magazine: Independent lifestyle magazine and book publisher with a quiet, design-led aesthetic and city-themed content. Comparable in editorial positioning, photography-driven books, and curated retail/goods extensions.
• Suitcase Magazine: Independent travel and city-focused magazine producing city-specific editions and premium travel content. Comparable to URBANBOOKS' Urban Live series in city-as-product editorial format.
• Apartamento Publishing: Independent Barcelona-based magazine and book publisher focused on interiors, design, and lifestyle with a strong visual identity. Comparable as an indie lifestyle publisher producing coffee-table books and branded goods.
• Drift Magazine: Independent magazine covering coffee shop culture and city life across multiple global cities, with city-specific editions. Comparable in independent city-themed editorial positioning and small-team operations.

Emerging players

• Dazed Media: Independent media company publishing Dazed and AnOther Magazine, with branded content and merchandise arms. Comparable as an indie publisher that monetizes editorial through brand collaborations and city/lifestyle content.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/urbanbooks_voices
• Facebookfacebook.com/urbanlikemag

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about URBANBOOKS