As of May 14, Yes24 reported that Project Hail Mary returned to the top during the second week of May, maintaining its long-term popularity. After five consecutive weeks at number one in April, it briefly dropped to second place due to Children's Day but has now risen back to the top.
Kyobo Bookstore also confirmed that Project Hail Mary has regained the number one position, surpassing Common Siblings 22, which has a strong fan base among young readers.
Both bookstores are seeing a strong performance in fiction. At Kyobo Bookstore, seven novels are listed in the top ten, including Hello, I Said and Grapefruit Apricot Club. Yang Gyu-ja's Contradiction, which had seen a slight decline, climbed four spots this week to reach number seven, showcasing its resilience.
The market response to classic literature is also robust. Hermann Hesse's Siddhartha rose five places to number nine, likely due to increased sales ahead of Buddha's Birthday. Chekhov's Short Stories saw a staggering 13.8-fold increase in sales, debuting at number 19.
Yes24 also reported strong sales in fiction. Hello, I Said, which ranked fourth, has consistently remained in the top tier since author Kim Ae-ran's appearance on a TV talk show in April. The Boy from the Sea, ranked eighth (third in fiction/poetry/drama), saw a 62.6% increase in sales compared to the previous week. It has gained international attention as a candidate for the 2026 Dublin Literary Award and is now making waves in the domestic bestseller list.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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