Korean Language Proficiency Rises Again in the AI Era... Sales of "Korean Language" Books Up 11.2%

Sales of Literacy-related Books Surge Nearly 100 Times in Five Years

"Munhaenaegong" Tops Korean Language Charts... Special Hangul Day 100th Anniversary Exhibition Held

With the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), there has been growing interest in comprehensive "Korean language proficiency," encompassing vocabulary, expressive skills, and reading and writing abilities. This trend is reflected in increasing sales of books dealing with the Korean language and literacy.

The top 3 bestsellers for ‘Korean Language’ keyword books from January to September this year, compiled by Yes24. From left, ‘Literacy Mastery’, ‘The Moment Words Sink into Life’, and ‘My Second Textbook X Namin Ae's Rediscovered Korean Language’. Sales of ‘Korean Language’ related books increased by 11.2% compared to the same period last year. Yes24

According to Yes24 on October 6, sales of books featuring the keyword "Korean language" from January to September this year increased by 11.2% compared to the same period last year. The cumulative sales of literacy-related books from 2021 to 2025 jumped by 9,988.8%, about a hundredfold, compared to 2016 to 2020.

Books that provide integrated training in speaking, reading, and writing have stood out more than those focusing solely on spelling or vocabulary. "Munhaenaegong," co-authored by Professor Shin Jongho of Seoul National University and writer Kim Yoonjung and published last August, ranked first among bestsellers with the keyword "Korean language" this year and secured third place in the humanities and general knowledge category on Yes24 in September.

"The Moment Words Soak into Life" by Professor Hwang Sunyeop of the Department of Korean Language and Literature at Seoul National University, which explores Korean vocabulary in its cultural context, placed second. "My Second Textbook X Namin Ae's Revisited Korean Language" by Professor Namin Ae of Seoul National University, which covers vocabulary, reading, and practical writing through literature found in school textbooks, took third place.

To mark the 100th anniversary of Hangul Day, Yes24 is hosting a special exhibition, "Our Hangul That Enlightened the World," through October 31. The exhibition introduces the history of Hangul Day from its origin as "Gagya Day" in 1926 to the present and presents related books on the history of Hangul, children's vocabulary and spelling, and Korean language for foreigners, among other themes.

The process of compiling Korean dictionaries is also being highlighted. Editors, including Kim Mihye of the "Bori Korean Dictionary," as well as those of the "Bori Proper Korean Usage Dictionary" and "Proper Language and Writing Dictionary," share their challenges and actual editorial processes in interviews conducted by the cultural webzine Channel Yes.

Reader participation programs have also been prepared. In the "Share Our Language" event, participants select a favorite Korean word and write their own sentence in the comments section, with reading support funds to be provided to 200 participants. There will also be a "Korean Language Skill Test" to check knowledge of spelling, proverbs, vocabulary, and Hangul facts, along with the release of commemorative products for the 100th anniversary of Hangul Day.

Yes24's Head of Book Business Division, Cho Sunyoung, stated, "Our aim was to create an opportunity to reflect on the history of Hangul while also encouraging a fresh perspective on the language and writing we use today," and added, "I hope this becomes a time for people to rediscover the Korean language we use so familiarly and to share the experiences embedded in their own words and writings."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.