GITNUXREPORT 2026

South Korea Book Industry Statistics

South Korea's book industry grew modestly in 2022, led by exports and digital formats.

Alexander Schmidt

Research Analyst specializing in technology and digital transformation trends.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

Our Commitment to Accuracy

Rigorous fact-checking · Reputable sources · Regular updatesLearn more

Statistic 1

E-book market share reached 22% of total in 2023.

Statistic 2

Ridibooks platform had 15 million users in 2023.

Statistic 3

Webnovel exports to global platforms: 1,200 titles.

Statistic 4

Audiobook apps downloads: 10 million in 2022.

Statistic 5

AI-generated book content: 500 titles published experimentally.

Statistic 6

NFT collectible editions: 2,000 books tokenized.

Statistic 7

VR/AR enhanced books: 150 interactive titles.

Statistic 8

Subscription e-book services: 3 million subscribers.

Statistic 9

Mobile reading app usage: 75% of digital consumption.

Statistic 10

Overseas webtoon-to-book adaptations: 800 titles.

Statistic 11

Blockchain verified editions: 1,000 anti-piracy books.

Statistic 12

Podcast-book crossovers: 300 titles linked.

Statistic 13

Gamified reading apps: 5 million downloads.

Statistic 14

Metaverse bookstores virtual sales: 50 billion KRW.

Statistic 15

Personalized AI recommendations boosted sales 18%.

Statistic 16

Digital comic books (webtoons printed): 20% growth.

Statistic 17

Cloud library access: 8 million users.

Statistic 18

Short-form audio books: 1,500 titles under 30min.

Statistic 19

Social media book challenges: 2 million participants.

Statistic 20

Hybrid print-digital bundles: 10% of sales.

Statistic 21

In 2022, the total revenue of the South Korean book publishing industry reached 4.62 trillion KRW, marking a 2.1% increase from the previous year.

Statistic 22

The book market in South Korea accounted for 1.8% of the global publishing market share in 2023.

Statistic 23

Export value of Korean books surged to 28.5 million USD in 2022, up 15% YoY.

Statistic 24

Domestic book sales volume decreased by 3.2% to 128 million copies in 2022.

Statistic 25

The average price of a printed book in South Korea was 12,450 KRW in 2023.

Statistic 26

Physical book revenue constituted 78% of total publishing revenue in 2022.

Statistic 27

Audiobook market in South Korea grew to 150 billion KRW in 2023, a 25% rise.

Statistic 28

Total publishing industry employment stood at 45,000 in 2022.

Statistic 29

Book import value hit 120 million USD in 2022, primarily from Japan and US.

Statistic 30

Per capita book spending in South Korea was 89,000 KRW in 2023.

Statistic 31

Children's book segment revenue was 850 billion KRW in 2022, 18% of total.

Statistic 32

Educational book sales reached 1.2 trillion KRW, dominating 26% market share.

Statistic 33

Literary fiction revenue declined 5% to 420 billion KRW in 2022.

Statistic 34

Self-publishing platforms generated 300 billion KRW in 2023.

Statistic 35

Overseas rights sales for Korean books totaled 5.2 million USD in 2022.

Statistic 36

Printing costs for books rose 12% due to inflation in 2023.

Statistic 37

Total market value projected to reach 5.1 trillion KRW by 2025.

Statistic 38

Independent publishers' revenue share was 15% in 2022.

Statistic 39

Brick-and-mortar bookstore sales dropped to 1.1 trillion KRW.

Statistic 40

Government subsidies to publishing industry: 50 billion KRW in 2023.

Statistic 41

In 2022, total revenue grew 2.1% despite pandemic recovery challenges.

Statistic 42

Global ranking: South Korea 5th largest book exporter in Asia.

Statistic 43

Print book unit sales: 125.4 million copies in 2022.

Statistic 44

Non-fiction segment: 1.8 trillion KRW, 39% share.

Statistic 45

Indie book fair sales: 30 billion KRW annually.

Statistic 46

Textbook market stable at 1.15 trillion KRW.

Statistic 47

Hobby and lifestyle books: 650 billion KRW.

Statistic 48

Annual book titles published numbered 52,340 in 2022.

Statistic 49

New fiction titles: 8,450 released in 2023.

Statistic 50

Children's books published: 12,200 titles in 2022.

Statistic 51

Academic and scholarly books: 15,670 titles in 2023.

Statistic 52

Translated foreign books: 4,120 titles imported and published in 2022.

Statistic 53

Webnovel adaptations to print: 2,500 titles in 2023.

Statistic 54

Poetry and essay collections: 1,890 titles published annually avg. 2020-2023.

Statistic 55

Reprints and new editions: 10,200 books in 2022.

Statistic 56

E-book exclusive titles: 18,450 launched in 2023.

Statistic 57

Comic and graphic novels: 9,800 titles in 2022.

Statistic 58

Religious books: 2,340 titles published yearly.

Statistic 59

Self-published titles via platforms: 25,000 in 2023.

Statistic 60

Bestsellers list featured 120 unique titles monthly avg.

Statistic 61

University press outputs: 3,200 titles annually.

Statistic 62

Korean classics reprints: 450 titles in 2023.

Statistic 63

Bilingual editions: 680 titles published for export.

Statistic 64

Print-on-demand books: 4,500 titles fulfilled.

Statistic 65

Magazine-integrated books: 1,200 hybrid titles.

Statistic 66

52,891 titles published including periodicals equivalents.

Statistic 67

Fantasy genre titles: 3,200 new in 2023.

Statistic 68

History books: 4,500 titles yearly average.

Statistic 69

Cookbooks and guides: 2,800 titles.

Statistic 70

Romance novels: 2,100 domestic originals.

Statistic 71

Sci-fi and mystery: 1,650 combined.

Statistic 72

Biographies: 1,200 titles published.

Statistic 73

Travel books declined to 890 titles post-COVID.

Statistic 74

Art and photography books: 950 luxury editions.

Statistic 75

Business and self-help: 5,400 titles booming.

Statistic 76

15,000+ new ISBNs registered monthly avg.

Statistic 77

Collaborative author works: 800 multi-author books.

Statistic 78

Limited edition prints: 1,500 collector items.

Statistic 79

25-34 age group represents 35% of book buyers in South Korea.

Statistic 80

Women account for 62% of fiction book purchasers.

Statistic 81

Urban residents buy 78% of all books sold.

Statistic 82

Average reading time per day: 28 minutes for adults.

Statistic 83

45% of readers aged 20-29 prefer physical books.

Statistic 84

High-income households (>10M KRW/month) spend 2x more on books.

Statistic 85

Students comprise 22% of total book consumers.

Statistic 86

Seoul metropolitan area: 55% of national book consumption.

Statistic 87

Elderly (65+) reading rate: 15% daily readers.

Statistic 88

Tech workers read 1.8 books/month on average.

Statistic 89

Female readers favor romance genre 48% preference.

Statistic 90

Married individuals read 20% less than singles.

Statistic 91

University graduates: 70% avid readers.

Statistic 92

Regional disparity: Jeju reads 40% less per capita.

Statistic 93

Gamers crossover to light novels: 30% overlap.

Statistic 94

E-book users: 55% millennials.

Statistic 95

Book club members: 1.2 million active.

Statistic 96

Digital natives (Gen Z): 82% read webnovels weekly.

Statistic 97

Online bookstore sales channel dominated 65% of total book sales in 2023.

Statistic 98

Kyobo Bookstore chain sales: 1.2 trillion KRW in 2022.

Statistic 99

E-commerce platforms like Yes24 captured 42% market share.

Statistic 100

Offline bookstores contributed 28% to physical book sales.

Statistic 101

Convenience store book sales volume: 15 million copies annually.

Statistic 102

Subscription box services for books grew to 200,000 subscribers.

Statistic 103

Airport and train station kiosks sold 2.5 million books in 2022.

Statistic 104

Department store book sections: 5% of total sales.

Statistic 105

Used book market via apps: 500 billion KRW turnover.

Statistic 106

Direct publisher sales online: 12% share in 2023.

Statistic 107

Pop-up stores and events generated 150 billion KRW.

Statistic 108

International online sales via Amazon Korea: 8% growth.

Statistic 109

Library bulk purchases: 10 million copies yearly.

Statistic 110

School textbook distribution: 95% through official channels.

Statistic 111

NFT-linked book sales experimental: 50 titles sold out.

Statistic 112

Overseas Korean diaspora sales: 20 million USD.

Statistic 113

Flash sale events boosted sales by 30% quarterly.

Statistic 114

Alphonse bookstore network: 35% offline share.

Statistic 115

Interpark books online: 25% e-commerce slice.

Statistic 116

Subway station book kiosks: 1 million sales.

Statistic 117

Corporate gifting programs: 100 billion KRW.

Statistic 118

Festival book stalls: 20 billion KRW seasonal.

Statistic 119

App-based second-hand: 300 billion turnover.

1/119

Sources

Trusted by 500+ publications

+497

While digital tides surge with 150 billion KRW audiobook markets and 25,000 self-published titles, South Korea's publishing industry remains an anchored giant, its 4.62 trillion KRW revenue in 2022 revealing a resilient ecosystem where physical books still command 78% of sales even as global exports soar by 15%.

Key Takeaways

In 2022, the total revenue of the South Korean book publishing industry reached 4.62 trillion KRW, marking a 2.1% increase from the previous year.
The book market in South Korea accounted for 1.8% of the global publishing market share in 2023.
Export value of Korean books surged to 28.5 million USD in 2022, up 15% YoY.
Annual book titles published numbered 52,340 in 2022.
New fiction titles: 8,450 released in 2023.
Children's books published: 12,200 titles in 2022.
Online bookstore sales channel dominated 65% of total book sales in 2023.
Kyobo Bookstore chain sales: 1.2 trillion KRW in 2022.
E-commerce platforms like Yes24 captured 42% market share.
25-34 age group represents 35% of book buyers in South Korea.
Women account for 62% of fiction book purchasers.
Urban residents buy 78% of all books sold.
E-book market share reached 22% of total in 2023.
Ridibooks platform had 15 million users in 2023.
Webnovel exports to global platforms: 1,200 titles.

South Korea's book industry grew modestly in 2022, led by exports and digital formats.

Digital & Emerging Trends

E-book market share reached 22% of total in 2023.
Ridibooks platform had 15 million users in 2023.
Webnovel exports to global platforms: 1,200 titles.
Audiobook apps downloads: 10 million in 2022.
AI-generated book content: 500 titles published experimentally.
NFT collectible editions: 2,000 books tokenized.
VR/AR enhanced books: 150 interactive titles.
Subscription e-book services: 3 million subscribers.
Mobile reading app usage: 75% of digital consumption.
Overseas webtoon-to-book adaptations: 800 titles.
Blockchain verified editions: 1,000 anti-piracy books.
Podcast-book crossovers: 300 titles linked.
Gamified reading apps: 5 million downloads.
Metaverse bookstores virtual sales: 50 billion KRW.
Personalized AI recommendations boosted sales 18%.
Digital comic books (webtoons printed): 20% growth.
Cloud library access: 8 million users.
Short-form audio books: 1,500 titles under 30min.
Social media book challenges: 2 million participants.
Hybrid print-digital bundles: 10% of sales.

Digital & Emerging Trends Interpretation

South Korea's publishing industry isn't just going digital; it's undergoing a hyper-modern, multi-platform metamorphosis where e-books claim a quarter of the market, AI starts ghostwriting, blockchain fights pirates, and the nation's stories—from webtoons to webnovels—are being voraciously consumed at home and exported globally, all while readers happily toggle between virtual bookstores, gamified apps, and bite-sized audio clips.

Market Size & Revenue

In 2022, the total revenue of the South Korean book publishing industry reached 4.62 trillion KRW, marking a 2.1% increase from the previous year.
The book market in South Korea accounted for 1.8% of the global publishing market share in 2023.
Export value of Korean books surged to 28.5 million USD in 2022, up 15% YoY.
Domestic book sales volume decreased by 3.2% to 128 million copies in 2022.
The average price of a printed book in South Korea was 12,450 KRW in 2023.
Physical book revenue constituted 78% of total publishing revenue in 2022.
Audiobook market in South Korea grew to 150 billion KRW in 2023, a 25% rise.
Total publishing industry employment stood at 45,000 in 2022.
Book import value hit 120 million USD in 2022, primarily from Japan and US.
Per capita book spending in South Korea was 89,000 KRW in 2023.
Children's book segment revenue was 850 billion KRW in 2022, 18% of total.
Educational book sales reached 1.2 trillion KRW, dominating 26% market share.
Literary fiction revenue declined 5% to 420 billion KRW in 2022.
Self-publishing platforms generated 300 billion KRW in 2023.
Overseas rights sales for Korean books totaled 5.2 million USD in 2022.
Printing costs for books rose 12% due to inflation in 2023.
Total market value projected to reach 5.1 trillion KRW by 2025.
Independent publishers' revenue share was 15% in 2022.
Brick-and-mortar bookstore sales dropped to 1.1 trillion KRW.
Government subsidies to publishing industry: 50 billion KRW in 2023.
In 2022, total revenue grew 2.1% despite pandemic recovery challenges.
Global ranking: South Korea 5th largest book exporter in Asia.
Print book unit sales: 125.4 million copies in 2022.
Non-fiction segment: 1.8 trillion KRW, 39% share.
Indie book fair sales: 30 billion KRW annually.
Textbook market stable at 1.15 trillion KRW.
Hobby and lifestyle books: 650 billion KRW.

Market Size & Revenue Interpretation

While Korea's literary heart still beats strongly in print, its future is being drafted by a surge in exports and audiobooks, even as it asks hard questions about why fewer people are buying books domestically.

Publication Volumes

Annual book titles published numbered 52,340 in 2022.
New fiction titles: 8,450 released in 2023.
Children's books published: 12,200 titles in 2022.
Academic and scholarly books: 15,670 titles in 2023.
Translated foreign books: 4,120 titles imported and published in 2022.
Webnovel adaptations to print: 2,500 titles in 2023.
Poetry and essay collections: 1,890 titles published annually avg. 2020-2023.
Reprints and new editions: 10,200 books in 2022.
E-book exclusive titles: 18,450 launched in 2023.
Comic and graphic novels: 9,800 titles in 2022.
Religious books: 2,340 titles published yearly.
Self-published titles via platforms: 25,000 in 2023.
Bestsellers list featured 120 unique titles monthly avg.
University press outputs: 3,200 titles annually.
Korean classics reprints: 450 titles in 2023.
Bilingual editions: 680 titles published for export.
Print-on-demand books: 4,500 titles fulfilled.
Magazine-integrated books: 1,200 hybrid titles.
52,891 titles published including periodicals equivalents.
Fantasy genre titles: 3,200 new in 2023.
History books: 4,500 titles yearly average.
Cookbooks and guides: 2,800 titles.
Romance novels: 2,100 domestic originals.
Sci-fi and mystery: 1,650 combined.
Biographies: 1,200 titles published.
Travel books declined to 890 titles post-COVID.
Art and photography books: 950 luxury editions.
Business and self-help: 5,400 titles booming.
15,000+ new ISBNs registered monthly avg.
Collaborative author works: 800 multi-author books.
Limited edition prints: 1,500 collector items.

Publication Volumes Interpretation

South Korea's publishing industry is a dynamic ecosystem where the sheer volume of over 52,000 annual titles proves the nation's voracious reading appetite is being fed by everything from scholarly tomes and webnovel adaptations to a booming self-publishing scene.

Reader Demographics

25-34 age group represents 35% of book buyers in South Korea.
Women account for 62% of fiction book purchasers.
Urban residents buy 78% of all books sold.
Average reading time per day: 28 minutes for adults.
45% of readers aged 20-29 prefer physical books.
High-income households (>10M KRW/month) spend 2x more on books.
Students comprise 22% of total book consumers.
Seoul metropolitan area: 55% of national book consumption.
Elderly (65+) reading rate: 15% daily readers.
Tech workers read 1.8 books/month on average.
Female readers favor romance genre 48% preference.
Married individuals read 20% less than singles.
University graduates: 70% avid readers.
Regional disparity: Jeju reads 40% less per capita.
Gamers crossover to light novels: 30% overlap.
E-book users: 55% millennials.
Book club members: 1.2 million active.
Digital natives (Gen Z): 82% read webnovels weekly.

Reader Demographics Interpretation

While South Korea's literary heart beats strongest in the pockets of well-educated, urban young women clutching physical novels, the pulse fades significantly outside Seoul, after marriage, and with age, painting a portrait of a voracious but geographically and demographically concentrated reading culture.

Sales Channels

Online bookstore sales channel dominated 65% of total book sales in 2023.
Kyobo Bookstore chain sales: 1.2 trillion KRW in 2022.
E-commerce platforms like Yes24 captured 42% market share.
Offline bookstores contributed 28% to physical book sales.
Convenience store book sales volume: 15 million copies annually.
Subscription box services for books grew to 200,000 subscribers.
Airport and train station kiosks sold 2.5 million books in 2022.
Department store book sections: 5% of total sales.
Used book market via apps: 500 billion KRW turnover.
Direct publisher sales online: 12% share in 2023.
Pop-up stores and events generated 150 billion KRW.
International online sales via Amazon Korea: 8% growth.
Library bulk purchases: 10 million copies yearly.
School textbook distribution: 95% through official channels.
NFT-linked book sales experimental: 50 titles sold out.
Overseas Korean diaspora sales: 20 million USD.
Flash sale events boosted sales by 30% quarterly.
Alphonse bookstore network: 35% offline share.
Interpark books online: 25% e-commerce slice.
Subway station book kiosks: 1 million sales.
Corporate gifting programs: 100 billion KRW.
Festival book stalls: 20 billion KRW seasonal.
App-based second-hand: 300 billion turnover.

Sales Channels Interpretation

The Korean book market is a thrillingly chaotic ecosystem where the convenience of online giants reigns supreme, yet physical stores stubbornly carve out their quirky niches, proving that while you can browse a book in your pajamas, there's still a peculiar magic to finding one in a subway station or gifting it as corporate swag.

Sources & References

Logos provided by Logo.dev