VOL.83/2025.06

May Has Been a Busy Month, But the Days Are About to Get Busier

Best Seller Trends in the Three Biggest Online Bookstores
in Korea for the 1st week of May, 2025

2025.06.02

May in Korea is a busy month in many ways. From Children’s Day to Parents’ Day and Teachers’ Day, it’s a month of many holidays. Even if you are an avid reader, it can be hard to take a break from your busy schedule and open a book. The weather, too, is more unpredictable than in previous years. Unseasonably chilly days stretch on, and then, all of a sudden, a wave of heat rushes in. It is the perfect period to catch a cold, or rather, to stay cooped up in your room and read books as much as you want.
The presidential election, which has been called early, is less than a month away. The social sentiment leading up to the election is reflected in bookstores. Lee Jae-Myung’s It’s Ultimately People That Make It Happen and a book about him, Lee Jae-Myung’s Road, ranked No. 1 and No. 8, respectively, on the best seller list. The Reading of Youth (Special Enlarged Edition) by Rhyu Si-Min, one of the most prominent progressive commentators, and Beneficent Conservatives and Righteous Progressives by Choi Gang-Wook, a former member of the National Assembly, and his brother, Choi Gang-Hyuk, are also attracting readers’ attention ahead of the presidential election.
In the midst of all the political heat, readers looking to take a step back and cool off are turning to classical music. Among the top five books in the art category, the No. 1 and No. 3 titles are both about classical music. In contrast to its austere and calm image, these books tend to be witty, with provocative titles like Why Don’t You Like Classical Music? and Please, Listen to Classical Music. Each book was written by YouTubers specializing in classical music, with over 100,000 subscribers. Returning after five years, An Art Museum in the Corner of a Room 3 presents the best of contemporary art - which has continued its creative evolution in the United States - into the corner of our room. The book has gained the support of art-loving readers.
Politics and art - they seem to be unrelated to each other, but surprisingly, they are two of the most closely related fields. It will be fascinating to see how books that incorporate both will change things in the future.

* The rank of best sellers below was organized after integrating domestic best sellers in the first week of May from the three biggest online bookstores in Korea – Kyobo Book Centre, Aladin, and Yes 24.

Top 10 best sellers for the 1st week of May
1		It’s Ultimately People That Makes It Happen Author│Lee Jae-Myung Publisher│Ohmybook Genre│Politics
2		The Reading of Youth (Special Enlarged Edition) Author│Rhyu Si-Min Publisher│Woongjin Jisik House Genre│Humanities
3		Light and Thread Author│Han Kang Publisher│Moonji Publishing Genre│Non-fiction
4		A Life, Once Author│Kim Young-Ha Publisher│Bokbokseoga Publishing Genre│Non-fiction
4		Beneficent Conservatives, Righteous Progressives Author│Choi Kang-Wook, Choi Kang-Hyeok Publisher│Hankyoreh Publishing Company Genre│Politics
6		To Me, Who Will Be Shaken Tomorrow, Too Author│Namdd Publisher│arte Genre│Non-fiction
7		Human Acts Author│Han Kang Publisher│Changbi Publishers Genre│Fiction
8		Lee Jae-Myung’s Road Author│Park Si-Baek Publisher│ViaBook Publisher Genre│Politics
8		Shopenhauer’s Life Lesson: How to Live Your Life Author│Arthur Schopenhauer Publisher│Highest Books Genre│Humanities
10		Contradictions Author│Yang Gwi-Ja Publisher│Write Publishing Co. Genre│Fiction

 

Top 5 art books for the 1st week of May
1		Why Don’t You Like Classical Music? Author│Kwon Tae-Young (Tanglog) Publisher│Big Fish Book
2		An Art Museum in the Corner of a Room 3 Author│Cho Won-Jae Publisher│Black Fish Book
3		Please, Listen to Classical Music Author│Mangdoongeo, Haedal Publisher│The Square
4		MONSTA X: Best Songs Piano Book Author│Content Planning & Development Team Publisher│Samho ETM
5		Adult Kim Jang-Ha: Scenario Author│Kim Hyun-Ji Publisher│Porche Book