Yes24: "The Trickcal" Takes the Top Spot
Kyobo Bookstore: "Heunhannammae 20" Debuts at Number One
In the fourth week of September, Yes24's overall bestseller ranking was topped by "The Trickcal," a book that delves into the universe and story of the mobile game "Trickcal Revive." This achievement came just six days after pre-orders began on September 19. The new comic book in the series by YouTuber "Heunhannammae," who boasts 2.96 million subscribers, "Heunhannammae 20," ranked second, while former Constitutional Court Justice Moon Hyungbae's new release "On Kindness" took third place. Author Gu Byeongmo's new novel "Jeolch'ang 切創" saw a 67.4% surge in sales compared to the previous week, landing in fourth place. The special edition of the popular manga "Chainsaw Man," titled "Chainsaw Man Special Edition," secured the fifth spot.
Among the top five bestsellers, the purchasing trends of readers in their twenties stood out. For "The Trickcal," which claimed the top spot and is based on a popular mobile game universe, readers in their twenties accounted for 48.7% of purchases. Riding the wave of the film "Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc," which premiered on September 24, the "Chainsaw Man Special Edition" climbed to fifth place just seven days after pre-orders began on September 18. Notably, readers in their twenties made up a remarkable 60.9% of its buyers. Gu Byeongmo's new release "Jeolch'ang 切創," ranked fourth overall, had the highest proportion of readers in their twenties among all age groups at 33.8%.
As the end of the year approaches, books on trends, economic outlook, and investment are regaining popularity. "Trend Korea 2026," which ranked sixth, saw a 49.7% increase in sales compared to the previous week, marking two consecutive weeks of rising sales. "Era Forecast: The Birth of Lightweight Civilization" by Song Kilyoung, known as the "Era Observer," surged 109% in sales week-over-week, ranking seventh. Both books are especially popular among middle-aged readers interested in new year trends and the global economy, with readers in their forties and fifties accounting for 63.5% and 68.7% of sales, respectively. Investment-related books such as "There Is No Future Without Bitcoin" and "All About ETF Investment" drew attention by ranking tenth and twentieth, respectively.
"Quiet Recovery," featuring warm advice from Director Park Jaeyeon, reached eleventh place overall and second in the humanities category. In its second week since publication, "Quiet Recovery" saw a 119.6% surge in sales compared to the previous week. The book received strong support from readers in their forties and fifties, who accounted for 77.1% of its audience.
Conflict mediation expert Park Jaeyeon, a bestselling author of titles such as "Mom's Speaking Practice" and "Why Do I Find Your Words Difficult," has appeared on various television programs including "You Quiz on the Block" and "Sebasi," sharing methods for relationship healing through conversation. Her new book "Quiet Recovery" teaches readers how to mourn the losses experienced in life and provides the strength to live each day more fully.
At Kyobo Bookstore, "Heunhannammae 20" entered the overall bestseller chart at number one immediately upon release. Every time a new volume in the series is published, it ranks high, and this marks its twelfth time at the top spot, once again demonstrating its popularity. It surpassed Moon Hyungbae's "On Kindness," which had held the number one spot for three consecutive weeks, and Mel Robbins' "The Let Them Theory," which was in second place.
Gu Byeongmo's novel "Jeolch'ang" debuted at number two overall upon release. Gu Byeongmo first gained a loyal readership through young adult novels such as "Wizard Bakery" and "Come to the Ark," and has continued to attract attention with each new publication, including "Gills" and "Destruction." Earlier this year, "Destruction" gained renewed popularity after being adapted into a film, becoming a bestseller once again. Looking at the purchasing demographic, female readers made up a dominant 88.6% of buyers, with women in their twenties accounting for a high 42.7%. Alongside works such as Seong Haena's "Honmono," Yang Gwija's "Contradiction," and Han Roro's "Grapefruit Apricot Club," it is contributing to the popularity of Korean novels.
In the business and economics category, books related to cryptocurrency coins stood out. "There Is No Future Without Bitcoin" by Oh Taemin ranked eleventh overall, while "Stablecoin War: Economic Outlook for 2026" by Kim Gwangseok debuted at fifteenth. Despite the economic downturn causing a slowdown in demand for investment books, there is continued interest in new investment opportunities and forecasts within the business and economics sector.
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