Han River Nobel Literature Prize Brings 'Big Smiles' to Bookstores... 5060 Pushes, 40 Pulls

Published 24 Oct.2024 11:34(KST)

31.9% Increase Compared to Same Period Last Year
5060 Leads in Sales Growth Rate
40s Rank First in Bookstore Spending

On the 11th, an official was organizing the book display of Han Kang, the Nobel Prize in Literature laureate, at Kyobo Bookstore in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

After novelist Han Kang became the first Asian woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, bookstore sales surged, with the highest purchasing age group found to be those in their 50s and 60s.

On the 24th, BC Card released an analysis of sales data from major online and offline bookstores such as Kyobo Bookstore during the week of October 10-16, following the announcement of the author's Nobel Prize win. According to the data, sales during this period increased by 39.2% compared to the previous week (October 3-9) and by 44.0% compared to the same period last month (September 10-16). Compared to the same period last year, sales rose by 31.9%.

This is interpreted as a explosive increase in demand for Han Kang's works, which also led to a rise in demand for other literary works. Previously, it was reported that more than one million copies of Han Kang's works were sold within six days of the award announcement through platforms such as Kyobo Bookstore, Yes24, and Aladin.

Sales increased across all age groups, with particularly high growth rates among those in their 50s and 60s, at 42.8% and 51.9% respectively, surpassing other age groups. This was followed by people in their 30s (35.3%), 40s (31.9%), and those under 20 (11.5%). Month-over-month growth rates were highest among those aged 60 and above at 67.8%, followed by those in their 30s (59.2%), 50s (52.5%), 40s (40.7%), and under 20 (18.1%). Additionally, the age group that spent the most at bookstores during this period was people in their 40s, accounting for 32.0% of total spending across all age groups.

Meanwhile, the Swedish Academy announced on the 10th (local time) that Han Kang was selected as this year’s Nobel Prize in Literature laureate. They explained the reason for the selection as, "Han Kang’s works are powerful poetic prose confronting historical trauma and exposing the fragility of human life." The publishing industry, which had been in a long period of stagnation, has regained vitality due to the 'Han Kang fever' sweeping through bookstores.