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| ▲ A reader takes a photo of works by Korean writer Han Kang at a local bookstore after the author's Nobel Prize win on Oct. 11, 2024. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
SEOUL, Oct. 11 (Yonhap) -- Following the announcement of Han Kang's Nobel Prize in Literature win, her books have taken over the shelves in bookstores. Even anticipated releases like Yuval Noah Harari's new book and trend-driven bestsellers have been outshined by the surge in demand for Han Kang's works.
◇ Harari's New Book and Trend Titles Fall Behind as Han Kang's Works Dominate
Within half a day of the announcement, over 130,000 copies of her books were sold across two major bookstore chains, with demand continuing to outstrip supply.
Since Han Kang's Nobel Prize win, sales of her books have skyrocketed. Within roughly half a day, over 60,000 copies were sold at Kyobo Bookstore and more than 70,000 at Yes24, with many orders now being fulfilled through pre-sales due to stock shortages. Despite high demand, it has become challenging for customers to obtain her books immediately.
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| ▲ This Yonhap file photo shows Korean writer Han Kang. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
As of October 11, Kyobo Bookstore's real-time bestseller list is dominated by Han Kang's works, occupying the top nine slots. Titles like The Vegetarian, Human Acts, We Do Not Part, The White Book, Greek Lessons, I Put an Evening in a Drawer, and The Vegetarian: Revised Edition are among those in high demand. All top seven titles are currently only available for pre-order due to depleted stock. Kyobo reported that sales of Han's works surged 451 times compared to the previous day.
A similar trend is evident at Yes24, where the top ten slots of its bestseller list are occupied by Han Kang's books. Human Acts leads at number one, followed by The Vegetarian and We Do Not Part. Sales of these books have seen a dramatic increase: Human Acts rose by 784 times, The Vegetarian by 696 times, and We Do Not Part by 3,422 times. Human Acts sold 28,000 copies, The Vegetarian 26,000 copies, and We Do Not Part 23,000 copies. A Yes24 spokesperson noted, "The sales are overwhelming, making it difficult to track beyond the top three titles. All of her works are selling rapidly."
Aladdin bookstore also saw Han Kang's novels and poetry dominate their bestseller section, taking the top eight spots.
Kim Hyun-jung, Kyobo Bookstore’s bestselling books coordinator since 2008, commented, "This is the fastest-selling case we've seen since Han Kang's Man Booker Prize-winning work The Vegetarian. However, unlike then, the demand now extends to her entire body of work."
◇ Pre-Orders and Stock Shortages Prompt Publishers to Focus on Reprints
Due to the sharp increase in demand, many of Han Kang's books are currently out of stock. Popular titles like The Vegetarian and Human Acts have already run out, prompting bookstores to request additional print runs from publishers.
A Yes24 representative stated, "We expect Human Acts to be restocked by Monday and The Vegetarian by Wednesday, though even this estimate is uncertain due to the surge in orders. Most of Han Kang's books are now only available through pre-order."
This situation is mirrored at other large bookstores like Kyobo. Meanwhile, Han Kang's publishers—Changbi, which released The Vegetarian and Human Acts, and Munhakdongne, which holds titles like The Essential Han Kang, We Do Not Part, The White Book, and others—are making efforts to meet demand through increased production.
Amid the "Nobel Prize boom," bookstores have set up special sections dedicated to Han Kang's Nobel win. Kyobo Bookstore has launched a “Han Kang’s Nobel Prize in Literature” section, introducing her previous works. Yes24 has similarly created a “Han Kang, 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature” feature, highlighting her past interviews and the Nobel committee’s comments on her work.
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