Yoo Si-min's "Youth Reading" Tops Kyobo Bookstore Chart
"Heunhannammae 19" Takes No. 1 on YES24
"Youth Reading" by author Yoo Si-min, which has returned as a special expanded edition, topped the YES24 overall bestseller list for the fourth week of April with its pre-order sales. Although "Youth Reading" by Yoo Si-min was first released in 2009, the special expanded edition has once again claimed the overall No. 1 spot, drawing attention. "Youth Reading" reached No. 1 just two days after pre-orders began on April 22, garnering support from readers in their 40s and 50s (78.7%).
"Only One Life," the first new work in six years by author Kim Young-ha, ranked second.
"Light and Thread," the new release by Han Kang, winner of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature, debuted at No. 3 immediately upon publication. Han Kang's new essay collection "Light and Thread" sold approximately 5,000 copies within a single day after pre-orders began on April 23 (based on sales data from 11 a.m. on April 23 to 8 a.m. on April 24), reaching No. 3 overall and No. 1 in real-time sales, reflecting immense interest. The book was especially well received by readers in their 40s and 50s (59.3%).
Published as part of the "Munji Ecri" prose series by Moonji Publishing, "Light and Thread" includes Han Kang's Nobel Prize in Literature acceptance speech "Light and Thread," as well as previously unpublished poems and essays, garden diaries, and twelve other pieces, accompanied by photographs taken by the author herself. Through this book, Han Kang brings forth records of imagining hope as long as one is alive, and of that long and deep love.
The new book by Lee Jae-myung, former leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, "In the End, the People Do It," ranked fourth, while "Heunhannammae 19," the latest volume by the popular creator "Heunhannammae," who has surpassed 2.91 million subscribers, ranked fifth.
"That Should Be Enough," a report on Kim Jang-ha, the mentor of former Constitutional Court Justice Moon Hyung-bae, who retired on April 18, ranked sixth. "President Yoon Suk-yeol's Impeachment Case Verdict" ranked eighteenth. The new essay "Recording Life" by the married YouTubers "Recording Life," beloved by 1.31 million subscribers, debuted at No. 15 upon publication, and "First Summer, Wanju," a new novel by author Kim Geum-hee, entered the chart at No. 19 with its pre-order sales.
Following the passing of Pope Francis, his official autobiography "Hope" and "My Life" ranked first and fourth, respectively, in the religion category.
At Kyobo Bookstore, "Heunhannammae 19" soared to No. 1 overall immediately upon release. Despite the abundance of political issues, this marks the eleventh time the children's comic series "Heunhannammae" has claimed the No. 1 bestseller spot.
In addition, Thornton Wilder's novel "The Bridge of San Luis Rey" entered the overall chart at No. 14. As a classic fable, this is its fourth reissue. Through Kyobo Bookstore's crowdfunding service "Baro Funding," it achieved 1,710% of its target amount, attracting readers' attention even before publication. Female readers accounted for 73.1% of purchases, with women in their 40s making up 32.3% of the total.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
