VOL.69/2024.04

3rd Week, January 2023

Best seller Trends in the Four Biggest Online Bookstores in Korea

2023.02.20

In January 2023, authors who have diligently performed their role in one field captured Korean readers with their candidly written books. For example, the book I’m Thankful for My Life, written by Kim Hye-Ja, one of the representative actresses in Korea, ranked 1st on the integrated list of best sellers. The book melted the hearts of many readers with truthful stories about her 60 years of life as an actress. Also, former secretary Tak Hyun-Min who served as the protocol secretary to former president Moon Jae-In, met readers with the book Mr. President. The book provides a glimpse into the hidden efforts that Tak had put into during his service through the small episodes related to former president Moon Jae-In as well as stories about all sorts of government events that Tak had organized.
Once again, Koreans’ zeal for learning has heated up entering the new year. For example, the book Sky Bus written by YouTuber Bundang Gangssem, who has 170k subscribers, is a strategy guide for entering prestigious universities. It has been serving as a guide for parents by sharing secret tips for learning for elementary school students. Likewise, lawyer Lee Yoon-Gyu, who also runs a YouTube channel about studying, published Memorizing Techniques that Never Fail, which introducing practical memorizing skills for complex studies.
Meanwhile, in non-fiction, Don’t Let Your Emotions Become Your Attitude ranked 2nd. Anyone might have hurt others’ feelings because they acted emotionally one day. This book offers tips for keeping your mind centered from turbulent emotions and enlightens the importance of human relationships and emotion control. Also, Everything Begins from the Basics is a book written by Son Woong-Jung, father of world-renowned football player Son Heung-Min. It was published in 2021, but it once again gained the spotlight as Son’s performance at the 2022 Qatar World Cup led Korea to the round of 16. How about setting some new year resolutions and goals with this book, reading Son Woong-Jung’s philosophy in life as a football player, father, and leader?

* The rank of best sellers below was organized after integrating domestic best sellers in the third week of January from the four biggest online bookstores in Korea – Kyobo Bookstore, Aladdin, Yes 24, and Interpark.

Top 10 best sellers for the 3rd week of January
1		I’m Thankful for My Life Author│Kim Hye-Ja Publisher│Suo Books Genre│Non-fiction
2		If I Were to Re-live My Life (special edition commemorating 100 thousand copies sold) Author│Kim Hye-Nam Publisher│Maven Genre│Humanities
3		Father’s Liberation Diary Author│Jung Ji-Ah Publisher│Changbi Genre│Fiction
3		Sky Bus Author│Bundang Gangssem Publisher│Dasan Edu Genre│Family
5		Mr. President Author│Tak Hyun-Min Publisher│Medici Media Genre│Politics / Society
6		Slam Dunk Champ Comics Author│Takehiko Inoue Publisher│Daewon CI Genre│Comics
6		Choi Tae-Sung’s Korean History Exam 2023 (Difficult) Vol. 1 Author│Choi Tae-Sung Publisher│ETOOS Genre│Exam
8		Uncanny Convenience Store (Cherry blossom edition commemorating 400 thousand copies sold) Author│Kim Ho-Yeon Publisher│Namu Bench Genre│Fiction
8		Memorizing Techniques that Never Fail Author│Lee Yoon-Gyu Publisher│The Quest Genre│Self-help
10		Uncanny Convenience Store 2 (Maple leaf edition) Author│Kim Ho-Yeon Publisher│Namu Bench Genre│Fiction

 

Top 5 non-fiction for the 3rd week of January
1		I’m Thankful of My Life Author│Kim Hye-Ja Publisher│Suo Books
2		Don’t Let Your Emotions Become Your Attitude Author│Kim Soo-Hyun Publisher│Highest
2		Why Fish Don’t Exist Author│Lulu Miller Publisher│Gom Books
4		To You, Who is Bound to Succeed (Cheer-up edition celebrating 100 thousand copies sold) Author│Choi Seo-Young Publisher│Book Romance
4		Everything Begins from the Basics Author│Son Woong-Jung Publisher│Suo Books