‘Trend Reading’ Surges at Year-End... KT Millie's Library Sees 17% Increase in Book Usage

As the end of the year approaches, there has been an increase in the use of trend books that cover the overall flow of society and the economy.

Three Trend Books from Millie's Library. Provided by KT Millie's Library

According to the reading platform KT Millie's Library, the number of shelves in the economics and business category, which includes trend-related books, increased by more than 17% in early November (November 1-15) compared to the end of October (October 15-31).

KT Millie's Library, the largest reading platform in Korea, announced on December 5 that the use of trend books covering the overall flow of society and the economy has been increasing as the year draws to a close. Among the top 50 titles in the economics and business category, eight were identified as trend-related books.

Millie's Library explained, "This phenomenon reflects the seasonal characteristic of the year-end, when people review the past year and prepare for the new one. In particular, trend outlook books that encompass society, culture, and the economy are recognized as practical content that serves not only as information but also as a reference for future planning and decision-making, leading to a tendency for increased interest every year-end."

In fact, "Trend Korea 2026" surpassed 54,000 shelf additions within two weeks of its release. The gender ratio of users was evenly distributed, with 54% female and 46% male. By age group, those in their 30s accounted for the highest proportion at 31%, followed by those in their 20s at 16%.

Currently, Millie's Library offers "Trend Korea 2026" not only as an e-book, but also in various formats such as audiobook, chatbook, and docent book.

Lee Sungho, Head of the Reading Party Division at KT Millie's Library, stated, "For trend books, there is significant demand to quickly check only the necessary content depending on the situation and purpose, rather than reading the entire book at once. Millie's Library provides trend books in various formats such as e-books, audiobooks, and chatbooks as a strategy to help readers flexibly utilize trend information in their daily lives." He added, "Going forward, we will continue to diversify access methods for books where timeliness is important, expanding the reading experience so that readers can understand and use the content in their own way."