Han Kang's powerful novel 'Human Acts' has secured the top position on South Korea's major year-end bestseller lists for the second consecutive year, marking a historic achievement in the country's literary landscape. The acclaimed work by the Nobel Prize-winning author dominated sales throughout 2025, according to rankings released by Kyobo Book Center, the nation's largest bookstore chain, and Yes24, the leading online bookseller.
This back-to-back chart-topping success represents a rare milestone in Korean publishing history. According to Kyobo Book Center, only five books have achieved consecutive top rankings in the company's entire history, and 'Human Acts' is the first novel ever to accomplish this feat. The previous works that achieved this distinction include diverse genres: poet Seo Jeong-yoon's collection 'Standing Alone' (1987-88), Daewoo Group founder Kim Woo-joong's autobiographical essay 'The World Is Vast and There Is Much to Do' (1989-90), Rhonda Byrne's self-help bestseller 'The Secret' (2007-08), and Buddhist monk Haemin Sunim's philosophical work 'The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down' (2012-13).
'Human Acts' explores one of the most traumatic events in modern Korean history, focusing on the 1980 Gwangju Democratic Uprising. The novel vividly depicts the brutal massacre where South Korea's military forces violently crushed a pro-democracy movement, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of students and unarmed civilians. Through its unflinching examination of this dark chapter, the book has resonated deeply with Korean readers and contributed to ongoing conversations about the country's democratic struggles.
Han Kang's literary dominance extended beyond 'Human Acts' on the bestseller lists. Her internationally acclaimed novel 'The Vegetarian,' which won the International Booker Prize and first brought her global recognition, secured the ninth position. Additionally, her recent work 'We Do Not Part' claimed the 11th spot, demonstrating the author's sustained popularity following her historic Nobel Prize win as the first Asian woman to receive the literature award.
Kyobo Book Center characterized 2025 as 'a year defined by literature,' with fiction representing half of the top 10 bestsellers. This literary renaissance was not solely driven by Han Kang's success. Yang Gui-ja's novel 'Contradiction' claimed second place and maintained remarkable consistency, never dropping out of Kyobo's weekly top 10 throughout the entire year. The story follows 25-year-old Ahn Jin-jin as she navigates life's contradictions while torn between two men, weighing the competing demands of love and stability.
Emerging voices also made significant impacts on the bestseller lists this year. Sung Hae-na's short story collection 'Honmono' secured fourth place, while Jung Dae-gun's novel 'The Torrent' ranked fifth, indicating strong momentum for younger Korean writers. These successes suggest a vibrant and evolving literary landscape that encompasses both established masters and rising talents.
Political and social themes significantly influenced reader preferences beyond fiction. Among nonfiction bestsellers, President Lee Jae-myung's pre-election book 'In the End, It Is the People Who Decide' captured third place, reflecting public interest in political discourse. The sixth position went to 'Super-Translated Buddha's Words' by Ryunosuke Koike, which experienced sudden popularity after receiving an endorsement from K-pop star Jang Won-young, demonstrating the intersection of celebrity influence and literary consumption.
The remaining positions on the bestseller list showcased diverse literary voices and genres. Writer, former lawmaker, and political commentator Yoo Si-min's essay collection 'Reading in Youth' placed seventh, followed by essayist Taesoo's work 'The Quiet Happiness of Adulthood' in eighth place. Novelist Kim Young-ha's essay collection 'One Life Only' rounded out the top 10, highlighting the strong appeal of personal reflection and philosophical writing among Korean readers.
While Yes24's year-end rankings showed a similar top 10 lineup, there were notable differences that illustrate varying reader preferences across platforms. 'The Vegetarian' and 'The Torrent' were absent from Yes24's list, replaced instead by star history teacher Choi Tae-seong's exam preparation guide in ninth place and the handwriting practice notebook 'One Day One Page' in tenth position. These variations demonstrate the diverse reading habits and practical needs of different consumer segments in Korea's robust book market.
