Which Literary Character Do Children Prefer Most?... "Byeoljubujeon" Tops the List

Results of the Survey on Preferences for Characters from Korean Literary Works Announced

With the opening of the National Museum of Korean Literature scheduled for the first half of 2027, the museum conducted an online survey on "Children's Preferences for Characters from Korean Literary Works," in which "Byeoljubujeon" ranked first.

Promotional image for the National Museum of Korean Literature survey. Provided by the National Museum of Korean Literature

This survey was conducted from November 17 to 30, targeting 751 parents with children in kindergarten or lower elementary school.

Parents in their 30s and 40s accounted for 676 respondents, or 90% of the total. Their children were mostly kindergarteners (269) and first or second graders in elementary school (237), making up about 70% of the total children represented. Over 90% of respondents said their children are interested in books and story-based content, and also expressed their intention to visit the museum with their children once it opens.

The preference survey, which included about 20 classic and contemporary works featured in textbooks and winners of children's literature awards, found that "Byeoljubujeon" (252 votes) took the top spot. It was followed by "Cloud Bread" (234 votes) in second place, "Heungbujeon" (232 votes), "Hong Gil-dong Jeon" (179 votes), and "Simcheongjeon" (170 votes) rounding out the top ranks.

In the survey on character utilization, parents hoped that characters would serve not just as cute figures, but as mediums for conveying educational value that reflects the narrative of the works. In terms of content format, parents preferred immersive and experiential content in which their children could actively participate, rather than traditional passive content. Many also expressed expectations for integration with digital technology.

Director Moon Jeonghee stated, "We will continue to develop story- and participation-centered content so that characters from literary works can connect with children's imaginations and everyday experiences," adding, "This survey will also contribute to the expansion of children's content based on Korean literature."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.