Han Kang’s novel I Do Not Bid Farewell is drawing renewed attention after news it won the National Book Critics Circle Award.
Kyobo Book Centre said Thursday that the title ranked No. 12 on its overall bestseller list for the fourth week of March.
An analysis of buyers from March 27 to April 1, after the award news broke, showed the largest shares came from readers in their 40s (27.3%) and 50s (24.7%). Purchases by men in their 50s (10.7%) and 60s (10.4%) stood out. A Kyobo official said the award appears to have sparked interest among middle-aged male readers.
Online bookseller Yes24 also reported a sharp rise. After the award announcement on March 27, the book climbed to No. 7 overall. Sales over the following five days (March 27-31) rose 284.6% from the previous five-day period, with buyers in their 50s making up the largest share at 35.6%.
Overall No. 1 went to Project Hail Mary, which topped both Kyobo and Yes24 as its film release boosted demand. Sales have risen for two straight weeks since the movie opened on March 18. At Yes24, the same author’s space-themed novels Artemis and The Martian also gained, up 45.8% and 31.1% from the previous week, respectively.
Yoo Si-min’s autobiography, I Live Because There Is Love, ranked No. 2 overall.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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