Healing essays top bestselling list

Self-development and self-help books top the bestseller list for this year according to analysis by Kyobo Bookstore. / Korea Times file

As the economic woes continue to grip the nation, readers have sought for relief from books. This year, the largest number of readers chose “Things Can Be Seen When You Stop” by Ven. Hyemin, which includes inspirational lessons and wisdom.

Kyobo Bookstore, the nation’s largest book retailer, has conducted its yearly analysis of what has sold both online and offline from Jan. 1 to Dec. 2

It shows that the sales of the essays on healing and soul-searching rose by 16.9 percent from the same period last year, the biggest increase in sales among 27 categories.

“Youth, It Hurts” and “You Can Become an Adult When Shaken a Thousand Times” by professor of Seoul National University Kim Ran-do were fourth and sixth respectively on the top-selling list.

Ven. Jeongmok’s “It’s Not Late Even If a Snail Goes Slow” was 11th position, showing the increasing role of Buddhist monks as mentors.

“As young readers feel social anxiety and instability due to the soaring unemployment rate, they are seeking consolation and comfort in the books that suggest spiritual guides and finding energy to heal their wounds. They are looking for mentors,” the bookstore found.

“Thoughts of Ahn Cheol-soo” by Ahn Cheol-soo, former independent presidential candidate, ranked second with “Getting More” by Stewart Diamond in third place.

The survey shows that the readership reflects the increasing role of social networking services (SNS) to share opinions and thoughts and rapidly distribute knowledge and information.

The bookstore said that many young people find hope in the inspiring books such as the million seller by Ven. Hyemin, who is also well-known for his frequent contact with young readers through SNS activities by posting encouraging messages. He has also appeared on television lectures and attended cultural events to spread his beliefs.

“The interaction between SNS and offline activities created a synergy to boost sales of the book,” according to Kyobo.

Also noticeable in terms of saleswas “Thoughts of Ahn Cheol-soo,” which set a Korean record for the most sales within the shortest period of time. It sold more than 7,500 copies on July 19 when the book was released, the highest number in the shortest period of time. Ahn’s book surpassed the 3,500 copies of “Steve Jobs: Exclusive Biography” by Walter Isaacson in October last year.

However, only two literary works are included in the top ten. They are “Eungyo” by Park Bum-shin and “Moon Embracing the Sun” by Jung Eun-gwol, both adapted into television dramas.

“While television dramas are dominating the book shelves, new literary works are underappreciated by readers. People tend to choose books that have proved themselves through various adaptations,” the bookstore says.

Compared to past inclinations which saw at least one or two Korean literature titles with a million sales, this year there were none. Readers have relied on established names or familiar works remade into films or television dramas rather than rising authors.

Among this trend, humanity books began gradually drawing attention as the importance of the subject is more widely recognized. Chinese classics such as “Analects of Confucius” and “Moderation” have been re-interpreted into modern languages by renowned philosophers and scholars such as Kim Yong-ok and Jung Min. <The Korea Times/Chung Ah-young>