VOL.69/2024.04

2nd Week, June 2023

Best seller Trends in the Four Biggest Online Bookstores in Korea

2023.07.03

In June, books that encourage readers to reflect on their behaviors and set up new philosophies for life caught readers’ hearts. First, let’s look at two self-help books that have been best sellers since last year. Counter Your Life, the most popular book last year, returned with an extended edition. As it was a hot issue book setting best seller records for 50 consecutive weeks, the extended version immediately became a best seller as well. The new edition, which has about 100 pages added to the initial edition, is enriched with new secrets from the author and testimonials from readers whose lives have transformed after reading the book. Also, Sayno Love is the best selling book of the first half of 2023, having been on top of the sales ranking of the four largest online bookstores in Korea since its publication in March 2023. The book, which shares thoughts on how to live your life by changing yourself instead of blaming others, has been selling well in paperback despite the fact that the author released the e-book for free at the same time as the book was published. Meanwhile, the new book Sky, Wind, Stars, and Humans, written by “friendly physicist” Kim Sang-Wook after 5 years, ranked 8th. If you want to learn about the world seen from a warm perspective of a physicist – from tiny atoms to humans and the universe – why not read the book?

* K-Book Trends Vol. 42 – Go to the article about writer Kim Sang-Wook

Among travel books, those that introduce tourist spots in Korea for a light visit were popular in June. For example, Trekking Routes for Walking introduces trekking courses in Korea for anyone to walk along easily. The courses are organized by difficulty, season, and theme, making it easy to choose the right one for you. Also, I Have Been Waiting for the Weekend to Go Here is a book that talks about hidden, hot places in Korea that you can visit easily over a weekend. It also recommends a variety of tourist destinations categorized into five themes, including unique experiences, refreshment, and neighborhood exploration. If you can’t spare time to go on a trip, why not take a peek at other people’s travels through the book Trip Moments? Ten travel writers beloved by Gen MZ have assembled a collection of their travelogues, and you will find yourself indulged by their experiences as you read through them.

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

Top 10 best sellers for the 2nd week of June
1		Sayno Love Author│Sayno Publisher│Day One Genre│Self-help
2		Counter Your Life (extended edition) Author│Jachung Publisher│Woongjin Jisik House Genre│Self-help
3		The Power of Flexing Author│Susan J. Ashford Publisher│Sangsang Square Genre│Self-help
4		Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention Author│Johann Hari Publisher│Across Genre│Humanities
5		Petite Philosophy de La Mer Author│Laurence Devillairs Publisher│FIKA Genre│Humanities
6		An Introduction to Business Management Author│Kim Seung-Ho Publisher│Snow Fox Books Genre│Business
7		Anne of Green Gables: Complete Collection Author│Written by Lucy Maud Montgomery, illustrated by Yoo Bora Publisher│Hyundae Jisung Genre│Fiction
8		I Can’t Like You for Your Face! 7 (first-edition-only Kanato & Doigaki standing POP and a booklet) Author│Karin Anzai Publisher│Seoul Media Comics (Seoul Media Group) Genre│Comics
8		Sky, Wind, Stars, and Humans Author│Kim Sang-Wook Publisher│Bada Books Genre│Science
10		Stoner Author│John Williams Publisher│RH Korea Genre│Fiction

 

Top 5 travel books for the 2nd week of June
1		Trekking Routes Good for Walking Author│Kim Young-Soo Publisher│Hanbit Life
2		I Have Been Waiting for the Weekend to Go Here Author│Joomalang2 Publisher│Big Fish
3		Trip Moments Author│Go Soo-Ri, Kim Sin-Ji, Bong Hyeon, Seo Hannah, Seo Hae-In, Soo Shin-Ji, Oh Hana, Lee Dae-Hye, Lee Yeon, Lim Jin-Ah Publisher│Uuheebooks
4		Midnight Museum: Paris Author│Park Songi Publisher│Big Fish
4		This is Hokkaido Author│Kwon Yena, Kim Min-Jung Publisher│TERRA
4		Encyclopedia of Breads in Japan Author│Editors of Tatsumi Publishing Publisher│Kl Books