′Inconvenient Convenience Store′ becomes most borrowed book at public libraries

'Inconvenient Convenience Store' becomes most borrowed book at public libraries: General / 연합뉴스 / 2022-12-29 16:52:59

▲This photo shows Kim Ho-yeon writer of 'Inconvenient Convenience Store.' (Yonhap)

▲This photo, provided by National Library of Korea, shows infographic. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Dec. 29 (Yonhap) -- The data shows that Writer Kim Ho-yeon's full-length novel "Inconvenient Convenience Store" was the most borrowed book in public libraries.

National Library of Korea announced on Thursday that such information was found after analyzing the datas of 'Library information-naru," which collects and provides data of 1,490 public libraries.

"Inconvenient Convenience Store," based on a convenience store located at Cheongpa-dong alley, shares the stories of neighbors warmly. First book was released last April and the second this August.

The book became the most borrowed book at public library this April, a year after its release. Until last month, it topped "Most-Borrowed Book" monthly chart for eight consecutive months.

Official of the library said, "Not only was it the most borrowed book among readers from 30s to 50s, it was borrowed the most at 13 cities, including Seoul, Busan, Jeju, etc.

The second book also placed second on the chart in November, just three months after it was released. Based on the chart in November, first and second places were all occupied by "Inconvenient Convenience Store."

In the epigraphy category, "Kim's story 1" (translated) by Song Hee-goo topped the chart with its honest depiction of working life and reality of real estates. The data reveals that women in 30s to 50s read it the most.

The national library analyzed that popularity of Korean literature has been steadily rising.

Looking at the top 100 books, 52 Korean literature made the list in the last 5 years, but this year, it was 73 books, which is 40% increase.

The number of books borrowed at the Public library also increased by 26.2% compared to that of last year.

By months, most number of books were borrowed in August, and June was the lowest.

Looking at the users by gender, more number of women (56.6%) borrowed books than men (35.9%). By ages, the order was people in 40s (33.0%), in 30s (17.0%), and 8-13 (16.3%).

(This article is translated from Korean to English by Jiwon Woo.)

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