VOL.83/2025.06

A Season When Spring Blossoms Stir the Heart

Best Seller Trends in the Three Biggest Online Bookstores
in Korea for the 2nd week of April, 2025

2025.05.07

It’s April in Korea, a season full of excitement as spring flowers bloom in cities and nature alike. As people flock to enjoy the short but intense season, more and more readers are turning to books to get in on the fun. Books as colorful as spring flowers have made their way onto the integrated best seller lists for the second week of April. For example, Kim Young-Ha’s new essay A Life, Once, which has been making waves since its release, quickly became the No.1 overall best seller. Kim described the book as “a book that can only be written once in a lifetime,” capturing the thoughts and feelings that Kim has accumulated from deep within himself. Although life is said to be unpredictable, unfair, and disorganized, Kim’s book offers a lighthearted yet sharp look at the only life we have. Instead of comfort or advice, the book offers readers a “time to contemplate.”

* K-Book Trends Vol. 82 – Go to the article about A Life, Once

Meanwhile, two books about the political philosophy of one of the presidential candidates, Lee Jae-Myung, made it into the top 10. At No. 2 was It’s Ultimately People That Make It Happen, and No. 5 was Lee Jae-Myung’s Road, showing that political issues also influence the best seller list. At No. 3 was I Give, And I Forget, a book that has only recently been rediscovered since its publication in 2023. Chronicling the life of Kim Jang-Ha, who has emerged as an icon of positive influence, the book questions what it means to be a true “adult” through the story of his more than 50 years of practicing generosity and offering without expectation of return.
With Children’s Day coming up on May 5 in Korea, there has been a lot of interest in children’s books. In the second week of April, the top five best sellers in the children’s category were led by the longtime favorite Common Siblings 19, which took the top spot. Another “Common Siblings” series, Common Siblings’ Common Curiosity 13, also showed off its popularity, coming in at No. 2. Tied for second place was Long, Long Nights, the grand prize winner of the 21st Munhakdongne Children’s Literature Award. Through the story of the world’s last white one-horned rhino and a young penguin born in the rhino’s arms, Long, Long Nights is a heartwarming tale of the interconnectedness of our world.

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

Top 10 best sellers for the 2nd week of April
1		A Life, Once Author│Kim Young-Ha Publisher│Bokbokseoga Publishing Genre│Non-fiction
2		It’s Ultimately People That Makes It Happen Author│Lee Jae-Myung Publisher│Ohmybook Genre│Politics / Society
3		I Give, And I Forget Author│Kim Ju-Wan Publisher│People Power Books Genre│Non-fiction
4		Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI Author│Ethan Mollick Publisher│Sangsang Square Genre│Self-help
5		Contradictions Author│Yang Gwi-Ja Publisher│Write Publishing Co. Genre│Fiction
5		Winners of the 16th Munhakdongne Young Author Award (2025) Author│Baek On-Yoo and others Publisher│Munhakdongne Publishing Genre│Fiction
5		Lee Jae-Myung’s Road Author│Park Si-Baek Publisher│ViaBook Publisher Genre│Politics / Society
8		President Yoon Seok-Yul’s Impeachment Decision: Transcription Notes Author│Constitutional Court of Korea Publisher│The Human Genre│Politics / Society
9		Adult Happiness is Quiet Author│Taesoo Publisher│Page 2 Books Genre│Non-fiction
10		One-hundred Days of Transcription for Adults Author│Kim Jong-Won Publisher│Chungrim Publishing Co., Ltd. Genre│Self-help

 

Top 5 children’s books for the 2nd week of April
1		Common Siblings 19 Author│Baek Nan-Do Publisher│Mirae N (I-Seum)
2		Long, Long Nights Author│Luri Publisher│Munhakdongne Publishing
2		Common Siblings’ Common Curiosity 13 Author│Ahn Chi-Hyeon Publisher│Mirae N (I-Seum)
2		Oshigoto Sodan Center Author│Shinsuke Yoshitake Publisher│Gimmyoung Junior
5		Suppearlman, the Cashierless Convenience Store Hero 1: Strange Convenience Store Author│Ahn Do-Gam Publisher│Sandbox Network