South Korean bookstores reported a remarkable 40% increase in sales. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Oct. 25 (Korea Bizwire) – In the week following Han Kang’s historic Nobel Prize in Literature win, South Korean bookstores reported a remarkable 40% increase in sales, with older readers leading the buying surge.
According to data analyzed by BC Card, major bookstore chains, both online and offline including Kyobo Book Centre, saw their sales jump by 39.2% between October 10 and October 16, compared to the previous week. The increase was even more pronounced — 44% — when compared to the same period in September.
The sales boost represents a 31.9% increase compared to the same period last year, reflecting widespread public interest in literary works sparked by Han’s Nobel victory. While Han’s own books have seen explosive demand, the surge has lifted sales across the broader literary category.
Han’s works alone achieved a milestone within six days of the announcement, with combined orders exceeding 1 million copies across major retailers Kyobo Book Centre, Yes24, and Aladin.
The sales increase was particularly pronounced among older readers. Those in their 60s and above showed the highest growth at 51.9%, followed by readers in their 50s at 42.8%.
Younger age groups also participated in the buying spree, with those in their 30s showing a 35.3% increase, followed by those in their 40s at 31.9%. Readers in their 20s and younger showed a more modest increase of 11.5%.
When compared to the previous month, the surge was even more dramatic among senior readers, with those 60 and above showing a 67.8% increase.
Readers in their 30s followed with a 59.2% increase, while those in their 50s saw a 52.5% rise. Those in their 40s and those under 20 showed increases of 40.7% and 18.1% respectively.
Despite the varying growth rates, readers in their 40s remained the largest consumer group during this period, accounting for 32% of total bookstore spending. They were followed by those in their 30s at 23.1%, 50s at 18.8%, 20s at 17.2%, and those 60 and above at 8.8%.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
