Hermann Hesse's Siddhartha has reached the top of the Kyobo Bookstore bestseller list. It is unusual for a classic work to claim the overall number one spot in the world literature category. In contrast, Yes24 reported that Pokémon Ecology Illustrated Special Edition continued its strong pre-sale performance, securing the top position there.
According to the bestseller rankings released by Kyobo Bookstore on July 5, Siddhartha climbed to the number one spot after a steady rise. This surge in popularity is attributed to the influence of an editor from a publishing house who gained attention as an influencer, leading to increased interest in the world literature collection he recommended. Notably, female readers showed a strong response, with those in their 20s driving this resurgence.
The trend of classic literature's popularity is also evident in other works. Cosmos, recommended by various science YouTubers as a 'life-changing book,' rose 16 spots to rank 11th overall, boosted by the release of a special edition marking its one million copies sold.
Interest in economics and finance remains strong. My First Real Estate Textbook by Song Hee-goo, which held the number one spot for two consecutive weeks, is now ranked second, while The Fork in the Road to Wealth by Oh Geon-young is in fourth place, reflecting high interest in the economic sector.
At Yes24, Pokémon Ecology Illustrated Special Edition debuted at number one in daily sales immediately after its pre-sale began on June 25, and it has now claimed the top weekly spot as well. Its unique format, presenting Pokémon in an ecological guide, has resonated with both children and adult readers familiar with the Pokémon franchise.
With summer vacation and the Korean History Ability Test approaching, 2026 Big Star Teacher Choi Tae-sung's Comprehensive Korean History for the History Ability Test (Levels 1, 2, 3) has secured the second and third spots, highlighting the strength of exam preparation books.
New releases from bestselling authors have also made their mark. Broadcaster Ko Myung-hwan's The Art of Reading climbed to sixth place just a week after its pre-sale began, while Yoo Si-min's Traveling Through European Cities 3 entered the rankings at 23rd place within a day of its pre-sale launch.
In the humanities and culture category, Kim Cheol's edited volume on Nietzsche, The Transcendent One, ranked eighth, while Kim Jin's Knowledge Briefing for Polite Conversation held the 15th spot.
In the fiction category, works such as Cheon Myung-gwan's Accordion, Seong Hae-na's In-Between, Higashino Keigo's Masked Life, Lee Woo-hyeok's New Exorcism: New World Part 1, and Eun Hee-kyung's The Touch of Time are among the top contenders.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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