Simultaneous worldwide release

Simultaneous worldwide release has become a trend. As is the case with movies, books are increasingly being published globally at the same time. “Steve Jobs,” the biography of the late Apple co-founder, was simultaneously released Monday in more than 20 countries. The book was translated not only into European languages including French, German, Spanish and Italian, but also into Asian languages like Korean, Japanese and Chinese. A Catalan-language edition of the book is also available. It is certainly a new and exciting trend for the world to get the translated version of a foreign-language book without a time lag.

“Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," the sixth novel of J.K. Rowling’s beloved series, and “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” the seventh and last installment, were published simultaneously in the U.K., the U.S., Canada, Australia and other English-speaking countries. In Korea, however, the translated versions were released several months after the original release. The simultaneous global release of Jobs` biography was possible because the American publisher announced plans for a simultaneous worldwide release prior to concluding any publishing contract. It sent manuscripts beforehand to the contracted publishers of the respective countries to give them time for translation.

In April next year, Harvard University professor Michael Sandel’s book “What Money Can`t Buy" will be simultaneously published both in its original English language and in Korean in the U.S. and Korea. In February this year, the book “33 Men,” the story of the 33 Chilean miners who survived 69 days in a mine shaft, was simultaneously released both in the original and translated versions in four countries including Korea. "WikiLeaks" was also released early this year in 11 countries at the same time.

Movies initiated the trend of simultaneous worldwide release thanks to digitalization. Among the films released globally at the same time were “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King,” “Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith” and “The Impossibles 3.” The first major digital movie was 1999’s “Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace,” but the first digital movie to be released simultaneously worldwide was "Toy Story 2," which was released in February 2000 at the same time in London, Brussels, Paris and Tokyo. "Toy Story" is from Pixar, which Jobs started. Apple’s iPad 3 due for release next year is projected to be released both in the U.S. and Korea at the same time. To Jobs, digital meant simultaneity.

Editorial Writer Song Pyeong-in (pisong@donga.com)