VOL.69/2024.04

2nd Week, April 2023

Bestseller Trends in the Four Biggest Online Bookstores in Korea

2023.05.02

As if reflecting the concerning economic status in Korea these days, business books have been selling well in bookstores in April. For example, Edible Economics, no.2 on the bestsellers’ list, is the first new title written by economist Jang Ha-Joon in 10 years. The writer, who the world pays attention to, gives easy and fun explanations about economics related to various cooking materials such as garlic and chocolate. Another book, Introduction to Presidential Studies, is a practical guide for corporate presidents written by Kim Seung-Ho, known as the “CEO-teaching CEO” traveling across the world. It offers answers to various questions from CEOs and to-be CEOs. As it asks questions about finding initiative in one’s life beyond being a mere introduction to the methodology, it is a good read for anyone even those who are not even thinking of becoming a CEO.
Meanwhile, Winners of the 14th Young Writer’s Award Collection published in April is a compilation of winning works of the Young Writer’s Award announced in February. While the Young Writer’s Award is presented to young writers who will lead the Korean fiction circle, female writers have once again shown their strength this year with colorful stories. Fiction Marigold Mind Laundry also ranked 4th among bestsellers. This book is the first full-length novel in 11 years by writer Yoon Jung-Eun since winning the award. It is a mind-healing story featuring a bizarre, magical laundry that completely erases one memory from a person.
Among the top 5 young adult books, books about how to study ranked top, as a new semester has begun. For example, the book A Seoul National University Student’s Secret Tutoring is a book about study methodology developed by the author, who is known as the “study mentor” for 160k subscribers on YouTube. She shares tips for making your own study routine, with techniques that she has developed. Meanwhile, I Will Rise Again Like the Wind, is a journal comprised of 9-years-worth of diaries and records of the author who survived the sinking of the Sewol ferry. Ranking 4th on the list, the book talks about how the survivor – the author – overcame the pain and sorrow, defined herself as a “survivor,” and decided to care for others suffering from trauma. How about reading this courageous and fierce record left by the author as a “person” and not just a “victim”?

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

Top 10 bestsellers for the 2nd week of April
1		Sayno Love Author│Sayno Publisher│Day One Genre│Self-help
2		Edible Economics Author│Jang Ha-Joon Publisher│Bookie Genre│Business
3		Dungeon & Fighter Neo Awakening Artbook Set Author│Neople Publisher│Kyobo Book Centre Genre│Art
4		Marigold Mind Laundry Author│Yun Jung-Eun Publisher│Book Romance Genre│Fiction
4		Introduction to Presidential Studies Author│Kim Seung-Ho Publisher│Snow Fox Books Genre│Business
6		Winners of the 14th Young Writer’s Award Collection Author│Lee Mi-Sang and others Publisher│Munhakdongne Genre│Fiction
7		K-Battery Revolution Author│Park Soon-Hyuk Publisher│Jiwain Genre│Business
8		Kim Mikyung’s Life Lesson for Those in Their Forties Author│Kim Mi-Kyung Publisher│Awake Books Genre│Self-help
9		2023 Eduwill Certified Realtor Exam: Real Estate Public Law System Author│Oh Si-Hoon Publisher│Eduwill Genre│Exam
10		If It’s Raining in Brazil, Buy Starbucks Author│Peter Navarro Publisher│FN Media Genre│Business

 

Top 5 young adult books for the 2nd week of April
1		100 Must-read Books for School Record Author│Joo Gyeong-Ah and others Publisher│Sensio
2		This Post is Password Protected Author│Hwang Yeong-Mi Publisher│Munhakdongne
3		I Will Cross Time for You Author│Lee Kkcohnim Publisher│Munhakdongne
4		I Will Rise Again Like the Wind Author│Yoo Ga-Young Publisher│Darun
5		A Seoul National University Student’s Secret Tutoring Author│Sorin TV (Ahn So-Rin) Publisher│Dasan Edu