This Year Kyobo Bookstore's Sales Increased... Travel Category Grows by 50%

Increase in Kyobo Bookstore Sales This Year
Growth in Travel, Self-Development, and Science Categories
Comics, Economics & Management, and Exam Prep Sales Slow Down
Books with the Keyword 'Anxiety' Sell Well

[Asia Economy Reporter Seomideum] Kyobo Bookstore announced on the 5th that offline sales volume showed a growth rate of 5.2% this year. The total sales volume of Kyobo Bookstore also showed a growth trend of 2.1%.

According to Kyobo Bookstore, the travel sector, which had been sluggish for a while due to the impact of COVID-19, grew by nearly 50%. As the COVID-19 situation gradually eased, the travel sector grew by an impressive 49.8% compared to last year.

Next, high interest was observed in the self-development and science fields. The self-development sector showed a growth rate of 18.0%, receiving the second highest interest after the travel sector.

On the other hand, the comic sector, which showed a syndrome-level phenomenon last year, slowed down this year. The comic sector, which had an astonishing growth rate of 56.0% last year, showed a somewhat reduced growth rate of 4.8% this year.

The economic management sector is in a similar situation. The economic management sector, which showed a growth rate of 22.1% last year, recorded a negative growth rate of -13.7% this year, showing a clear decline.

The growth rates of learning categories such as employment and exam preparation books, as well as elementary and secondary learning, also decreased compared to last year. This year, it showed -7.7%, entering a downward trend.

Last year, books on the theme of ‘anxiety’ received special attention. The number of published books containing the keyword ‘anxiety’ in the title or subtitle increased from 219 last year to 308 this year. The sales growth rate was 37.2% compared to the same period last year.

In the same context, sales of novels that soothe uncomfortable and anxious feelings also increased. Leading the overall ranking is 'Uncomfortable Convenience Store', followed by 'Welcome to Hyunamdong Bookstore' (overall 10th), and 'The Last Train Station in the World' (overall 11th), with novels containing the keyword ‘comfort’ selling well. The response to books with the keyword ‘comfort’ in the title also increased significantly, with the number of published titles rising from 158 last year to 257 this year, and the sales growth rate increasing by 28.5% compared to the same period last year.

Sales of scripts and screenplays also increased significantly. Especially this year, the growth rate doubled compared to the previous year. The best-selling script/screenplay book this year was 'Decision to Leave Script', and recently, the storyboard book also ranked, gaining popularity. Following that were 'Our Beloved Summer 1', 'Extraordinary Attorney Woo 1', and 'Semantic Error', all scripts and screenplays of dramas and movies that were popular throughout the year, which also gained popularity as books.