"Goethe Said Everything" and "Stock Investment for Progress"... Top the Bestseller List

Kyobo Bookstore: "Goethe Said Everything" Tops the Chart
Yes24: "Stock Investment for Progress" Leads the Rankings

Yui Suzuki’s “Goethe Said Everything” has claimed the top spot on Kyobo Bookstore’s comprehensive bestseller list. The book played a significant role in continuing the strong performance of novels at the beginning of the year, attracting widespread interest from readers in their 20s to 40s.

Morgan Housel’s “The Equation of Money” debuted at number two overall upon its release. Looking at the demographics of buyers, male readers accounted for 67.8%, with men in their 40s making up 23.8% of total purchases, forming the main customer base. Additionally, Housel’s previous book, “The Psychology of Money,” also reentered the spotlight, reaching number 23 overall with the release of a new edition. Morgan Housel has firmly established himself as a bestselling author in the field of economics and business.

The popularity of the Netflix variety show “Black and White Chef 2” has also had a major impact on bookstores. Choi Kangrok, the show’s final winner, saw his essay “On Cooking” jump 82 places to reach number 18 overall. The proportion of male readers purchasing the book was relatively high, with men in their 30s accounting for 24.7%, highlighting the influence of the male fan base. Choi Kangrok’s “Cooking Notes” also topped the cooking category, while recipe books by other chefs from the show-such as “Superpan Woo Jeongwook’s Recipes,” “Napoli Mafia Secret Recipes,” and “Venerable Sunjae’s Temple Cuisine”-ranked high among cooking bestsellers. Thanks to the success of the cooking competition program, sales in the cooking category increased by 20.6% compared to the same period last year (from January 1 to January 21).

In the third week of January, Yes24’s comprehensive bestseller rankings saw “Stock Investment for Progress” by Professor Lee Kwangsoo, head of Gwangsoo Real Estate Agency and an expert in economics, maintain the number one spot for the third consecutive week. The 2025 Akutagawa Prize-winning work “Goethe Said Everything” held steady at number two, while Nobumi’s 2016 picture book “Mom Became a Ghost!” made a comeback to reach number three. Morgan Housel’s new release, “The Equation of Money,” entered the chart at number four, and “On Cooking” by “Black and White Chef 2” winner Choi Kangrok ranked fifth.

With the new year, readers’ interest in investment strategies is also rising. “Stock Investment for Progress” saw the highest purchase rate among readers in their 50s at 47.9%, followed by those in their 40s at 27.6%. “Park Gomhee’s Pension Wealth Class” by investment mentor Park Gomhee TV, who boasts 1.07 million subscribers, ranked seventh, and “Essential Economics to Survive in the Age of Capitalism” by economic content creator Baekeoknam placed ninth, demonstrating the investment fever sweeping the publishing industry.

On social media, the “picture book that made mothers cry” has been trending in a resurgence. “Mom Became a Ghost!”, published in 2016, went viral after being featured in a Reels video by parenting influencer “Oyeol Mom,” earning the reputation of a “forbidden book among F moms.” The video surpassed 2 million views. Over the past three months (from November 2025 to January 2026), sales of the book have surged for three consecutive months, increasing by 63.6% compared to the previous week. “We Will Always Meet Again,” recommended by actress Han Gain on YouTube, saw sales jump 87.9% week-on-week, rising to number 21 overall. For both books, women in their 40s accounted for more than half of all purchases.

Meanwhile, thanks to the success of the Netflix show “Black and White Chef 2,” Choi Kangrok’s “On Cooking” saw sales soar by 94% week-on-week, reaching number five overall. His cookbook “Cooking Notes” ranked 16th, with both books topping the essay and home living categories, respectively.

International bestselling author Morgan Housel, known for “The Laws of the Unchanging” and “The Psychology of Money,” has returned to readers with his new book, “The Equation of Money.” Within two weeks of its January 5 release, the book climbed to number four overall. Sales surged by 251.8% compared to the previous week, with readers in their 40s accounting for the highest proportion at 43.6%. Interest from men in their 40s was particularly notable, making up 29% of the buyers.

Regarding “The Equation of Money,” Morgan Housel described it as “the perfect follow-up to ‘The Psychology of Money.’” Rather than offering budgets, tricks, or universal solutions, the book explores how one’s relationship with money influences decision-making and how changing that relationship can make money work for you.