The recent Nobel Prize win by novelist Han Kang has sparked a surge in book sales, not only for her works but also boosting other authors’ literature, both fiction and non-fiction. On the 17th, online bookstore Aladin released a list of the top ten books purchased alongside Han Kang’s works. Leading the list was “Beasts of a Little Land” by Korean-American author Juhea Kim, a book that saw its sales skyrocket by 70 times. This surge was measured against the sales from the week following Han Kang’s award announcement and the prior week.
Following Juhea Kim’s novel, the second and third spots were taken by “One is a Lie” by Kim Ae-ran and Yuval Noah Harari’s “Nexus,” respectively. Sales for these books increased by 201% and 105%. Korean literary works particularly benefited from what is being termed the “Han Kang effect,” gaining increased attention as a result.
Among non-fiction, Yuval Noah Harari’s new book “Nexus” and the annually popular “Trend Korea 2025” by Kim Nan-do and others held positions three and four on the list. As of the 16th, 16 out of the top 20 bestsellers on Aladin were by Han Kang, indicating that her win has invigorated interest in broader literary fields. An Aladin representative expressed hope that Han Kang’s recognition would continue to inspire readers and cultivate a vibrant reading culture.