VOL.93/2026.04

Moving Into the Final Stretch of 2025

Bestseller Trends in the Three Biggest Online Bookstores
in Korea for the 2nd week of November, 2025

2025.12.01

As November set in, temperatures began to drop abruptly, and daily swings became sharper. However, it isn’t the weather alone that signals winter’s approach. Bookstores began displaying Christmas ornaments and calendars for 2026, with next year’s planners quietly reminding readers that the end of 2025 is just around the corner. Around this time of year, bookstores always take on a distinctly wintery, year-end atmosphere.
This shift was equally evident in the bestseller lists. Literature, which had long dominated the rankings, has retreated, while books forecasting trends for 2026 - already strong in October - continue to gain momentum. Riding the unusual boom in the Korean stock market, investment titles such as PS4’s Meta-Cognition Investing Method and Trend Following with Large-Caps also climbed quickly. Amid these changes, the title that stood out most was Quantum Mechanics: A First Look, which rose straight to No. 1. Written by Professor Chae Eun-Mi, one of Korea’s leading authorities on quantum computing, the book breaks down the fundamentals of quantum mechanics and recent research findings in an accessible way. Meanwhile, in fiction, readers are enthusiastically welcoming The Last Will of Astham, the long-awaited new novel by Lee Young-Do, Korea’s foremost fantasy writer with growing international recognition. His first full-length novel in seven years, the story begins with the murder of popular author “Astham Row,” who, despite being killed, remains alive for four years, writing a “message before death” (imsajeon-eon, 臨死傳言) to reveal his killer. Blending fantasy, mystery, and metafiction, the novel’s premise has generated significant buzz.
The non-fiction category this month revolved around a single theme: “adulthood.” Former Constitutional Court Justice Moon Hyung-Bae’s About Goodwill, which also appeared in the documentary Adult Kim Jang-Ha; Taesoo’s long-standing bestseller Adult Happiness is Quiet; and Dignity of Adults, which has remained on the charts since its release in October - all suggest that many readers are reflecting deeply on what it means to be an adult today. Also, in the sports category, Your Time Will Come by Yeom Kyoung-Youb, the manager who led the LG Twins to consecutive Korean Series championships in 2023 and 2024, debuted at No. 4 immediately after publication. The book captures his strategies, philosophy, and baseball life - unique insights from someone who has won championships as a player, general manager, and coach. Meanwhile, Live Your Life Caring for Yourself by poet Na Tae-Joo compiles the lines and reflections that have resonated with audiences during his many lectures. True to its title, the book conveys the poet’s heartwarming hope that people will live with greater love and respect for themselves. As the final month of 2025 approaches, the bookstore shelves reflect a season filled with warmth, introspection, and quiet wishes for a gentle, hopeful new year in 2026.

* The rank of bestsellers below was organized after integrating domestic bestsellers in the second week of November from the three biggest online bookstores in Korea ? Kyobo Book Centre, Aladin, and Yes 24.

Top 10 bestsellers for the 2nd week of November
1		Quantum Mechanics: A First Look Author│Chae Eun-Mi Publisher│Book Pleasure Genre│Science
1		Trend Korea 2026 Author│Kim Nan-Do and 11 others Publisher│Mirae Books Genre│Business
3		Trend Following with Large-Caps Author│Lee Jong-Ho (Jeonhwang) Publisher│Sapientes Genre│Business
4		Cutting Wound Author│Koo Byung-Mo Publisher│Munhakdongne Publishing Genre│Fiction
5		PS4’s Meta-Cognition Investing Method Author│PS4 (Kim Dong-Ho) Publisher│The Korea Economic Daily Genre│Business
5		The Last Will of Astham Author│Lee Young-Do Publisher│Goldenbough Books Genre│Fiction
7		?bermensch Author│Friedrich Nietzsche Publisher│Rise Books Genre│Philosophy
8		Dark Psychology Author│Dark Side Project Publisher│Ascending Genre│Psychology
8		Park Gom-Hee’s Lesson on Getting Rich on Annuities Author│Park Gom-Hee Publisher│Influential Genre│Business
10		Money Trend 2026 Author│Kim Do-Yoon and 7 others Publisher│Book Moment Genre│Business

 

Top 5 non-fiction for the 2nd week of November
1		About Goodwill Author│Moon Hyung-Bae Publisher│Gimm-young Publishing
2		Don’t Let Your Moods Become Your Attitude Author│Lemon Psychology Publisher│Galleon
3		Adult Happiness is Quiet Author│Taesoo Publisher│Page 2 Books
4		Dignity of Adults Author│Choi Seo-Young Publisher│Book Romance
4		Your Time Will Come Author│Yeom Kyoung-Youb Publisher│Woongjin Jisik House
4		Live Your Life Caring for Yourself Author│Na Tae-Joo Publisher│Doublebook Publishing