Yangju City Selects Final 11 Titles for 2026 Book of the Year... Launches Reading Promotion Programs

by Lee jonggu

Published 21 Jan.2026 16:56(KST)

Yangju City in Gyeonggi Province announced on January 21 that it has selected 11 titles as the '2026 Yangju City Book of the Year.'

Yangju City Selected 'Book of the Year' 2026. Provided by Yangju City

To reflect the voices of various generations in this selection process, a citizen selection committee was formed, consisting of different age groups ranging from elementary school students to adults.

Since October of last year, the city received recommendations for the 'Book of the Year' from citizens, conducted a citizen preference survey, and held meetings with the citizen selection committee. Through this process, a total of 11 books were ultimately chosen across five categories: picture books, children's books, youth, literature, and non-fiction.

The selected books by category are as follows: In the picture book category, three titles were chosen: Cloud Band-Aid (written and illustrated by Park Yuni), Grandma Squirrel's Time (written and illustrated by Seo Young), and Our Eundong (written and illustrated by Kim Seonjin). In the children's book category, two titles were selected: The Polar Bear Center That Helps Warmly (written by Hwang Jiyeong) and Serve (written by Tak Jeongeun). In the youth book category, three titles were chosen: On a Night When I Wasn't There (written by Lee Kkotnim), The Diary That Sees the Future (written by Ko Hyewon), and Twin (written by Yoo Jinseo). In the literature category, one title was selected: The Gap of Sorrow (written by Lee Geumi). In the non-fiction category, two titles were chosen: What Is Korea? (written by Kim Youngmin) and My Second Textbook x Naminae's Korean Revisited (written by Na Minae).

Yangju City plans to collaborate with childcare centers, schools, local bookstores, and private small libraries to implement various programs that encourage citizens to read the selected 'Book of the Year' together, such as 'Sound of Book,' 'School Book Relay,' 'Our Neighborhood Small Library,' and the 'Book Crossing Reading Campaign.'

A Yangju City official stated, "We plan to carry out a variety of programs so that citizens can communicate, empathize, and experience the joy of reading through the Book of the Year. We hope for active interest and participation from citizens."