The 1020 Generation Returning to Comics... "Animation's Success Plays a Major Role"

The Share of Comic Book Purchases by Teens and Young Adults Continues to Grow
Sales Also Rise Each Year

The popularity of comic books is being revived. In the first half of this year (January 1 to April 10), comic book sales rebounded by 13.8% compared to the same period last year, driven by the purchasing power of the 10s and 20s age group.

According to the cultural content platform Yes24, the proportion of buyers in the 'Comics/Light Novels' category from the 10s and 20s age group has been steadily increasing over the past six years. It recorded 19.4% in 2020, 25.6% in 2021, 29.3% in 2022, 30.1% in 2023, 34.8% in 2024, and 38.6% in 2025. The share of teenage buyers, which was less than 1% in 2020, has increased to the 10% range this year.

The influence of the 10s and 20s age group is also evident in bestseller purchases. This year, the 10s and 20s purchase ratio for the top 1 to 5 bestsellers in the 'Comics/Light Novels' category?'Phantom Busters 2' (1st), 'Sakamoto Days 20 Triple Special Edition' (2nd), 'Sakamoto Days 19 Triple Special Edition' (4th), and 'My Hero Academia 42' (5th)?exceeded 60%. 'ONE PIECE 110,' which has been serialized for nearly 30 years, ranked 3rd and had a higher purchase rate among the 30s and 40s age group.

Gwon Moon-kyung, PD of Comics/Light Novels at Yes24, stated, "The recent bestsellers in the comic market can be seen as being born from the hands of the 10s and 20s age group, who are at the forefront of content." He added, "In the past, comics were often perceived as content enjoyed by a niche group of enthusiasts, but in recent years, various animated films and series have gained widespread popularity, making comics a part of everyday content for the 10s and 20s age group."

It has been found that the release of OTT (over-the-top) online video services is directly linked to the increase in paper book purchases. In the case of 'Sakamoto Days,' right after the animation was released in January this year, it ranked 2nd and 4th in the 2025 'Comics/Light Novels' bestseller list. 'My Hero Academia' also ranked 5th and 6th in the 'Comics/Light Novels' bestseller list after the release of its 7th animation season last year.