A stark decline in reading habits has gripped South Korea. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Apr. 19 (Korea Bizwire) – A stark decline in reading habits has gripped South Korea, with nearly 6 out of 10 adults failing to read a single book over the past year, according to the results of a government survey released on April 18.
The 2023 National Reading Survey conducted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism found the overall reading rate among adults stood at just 43 percent for the period from September 2022 to August 2023. This marked a 4.5 percentage point drop from 2021 and the lowest level recorded since the biennial survey began in 1994.
The adult reading rate has been on a steady downward trajectory since peaking at 86.8 percent in the survey’s inaugural year. But the decline has accelerated sharply following the inclusion of e-books in 2013, with each subsequent survey setting a new record low.
The reading drought cut across age groups but was particularly pronounced among the elderly, with only 15.7 percent of those over 60 having read or listened to a book over the past year, down steeply from 23.8 percent in 2021.
While adults in their 20s maintained the highest reading rate at 74.5 percent, this age group also saw a 3.6 percentage point decline. The rates for those in their 30s and 40s stood at 68 percent and 47.9 percent respectively.
A stark income divide was also evident, with the reading rate soaring to 54.7 percent for households earning over 5 million won monthly but plummeting to just 9.8 percent for those making under 2 million won.
Breaking it down by format, the reading rate for physical books was 32.3 percent, meaning nearly 7 in 10 adults had not read a single paper book over the yearlong period.
On average, South Korean adults read 3.9 books annually, a 0.6 book decrease from 2021, with only 1.7 of those being physical editions. They purchased an average of one paper book and 1.2 e-books over the past year.
The overall reading rate among adults stood at just 43 percent for the period from September 2022 to August 2023. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
Lack of time emerged as the chief culprit, with 24.4 percent of respondents citing work commitments as the primary obstacle to reading more. Smartphone and gaming distractions were the second most common reason at 23.4 percent, followed by 11.3 percent who said they simply lacked a reading habit.
In contrast to the adult demographic, reading indicators improved slightly among students. The overall reading rate for elementary, middle and high schoolers rose 4.4 percentage points to 95.8 percent compared to 2021. Students read an annual average of 36 books, up 1.6 from the previous period.
The survey highlighted a potential disconnect between students’ and the wider public’s perception of what constitutes reading. While the poll excluded textbooks, study materials and comics, around half of students considered reading manga a valid form of book consumption. And nearly 68 percent of adults viewed reading web novels as part of the reading experience.
“Based on the insights from this survey, we will implement policy initiatives under the Fourth Comprehensive Reading Culture Promotion Plan launched this year,” said a ministry official. “Our aim is to foster a culture where non-readers transition to becoming readers.”
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
