The Rise of Korean Literature… Bestsellers Captivating Readers, Including IVE’s Jang Wonyoung

A book has reclaimed the No. 1 spot on the bestseller list, surpassing strong contenders, including works by renowned author Han Kang, in just two weeks.

According to Yes24’s rankings for the second week of February, Buddha's Words (reinterpreted by the Japanese Monk Koike Ryunosuke, has once again taken the top spot. The book, which gained attention after being recommended by popular idol Jang Wonyoung, proves its lasting appeal by reclaiming its position at No. 1.

Following closely behind, historian Hwang Hyun-pil’s History for Progress ranked second, while Han Kang’s Human Acts, a work that gained renewed attention after the author won the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature, placed third. Motivational speaker Brian Tracy’s self-improvement book If You Don’t Take Action, Your Life Won’t Change took fourth place, and essayist Tae-soo’s The Quiet Happiness of Adulthood, his first book in two years, ranked fifth.

This week’s rankings reflect a strong demand for philosophy and handwriting practice books. In addition to Buddha's Words at No. 1, A Daily Handwriting Notebook for Vocabulary Growth and A Handwriting Guide for Better Word Choice ranked sixth and 18th, respectively. The expanded edition of When I Don’t Even Know What I Want, celebrating its fifth anniversary, saw a 52.8% sales increase, entering the top 20 for the first time.

The fiction category also maintained steady interest. Han Kang’s acclaimed novels Human Acts, The Vegetarian, and I Do Not Say Goodbye continued to chart. Additionally, Jung Dae-geon’s second full-length novel Torrent and Yang Gui-ja’s classic Contradictions surged to 13th and 15th place, respectively. With students on break, the widely recommended 50 Korean Short Stories climbed to 17th, bringing the total number of novels in the top 20 to five.

In the eBook category, Harry Potter 1–7 (Korean Edition) topped the chart, followed by Minari Teacher’s Classroom Management Guide for the New Semester by educator Hong Min-a at No. 2. Buddha's Words also ranked third, proving its popularity across both print and digital formats.

With Buddha's Words reclaiming the top spot, attention now turns to whether it can maintain its lead next week—or if Han Kang’s works will rise again.