In a startling revelation from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the annual reading survey for 2025 disclosed that 38.5% of South Korean adults did not read any books over the past year, marking the lowest reading rate on record. This comprehensive reading rate has experienced a sharp decline of 4.5 percentage points since 2023. Notably, this overall reading statistic includes only general books, excluding textbooks and comics, which presents a troubling picture for reading habits across various demographics. The reading rates have now dipped below the 40% mark for the first time since tracking began a decade ago, when it stood at 67.4% in 2015.

Interestingly, despite this overarching trend of declining reading rates, individuals in their 20s have demonstrated a slight increase in readership. The survey indicated that their reading rate went up by 0.8 percentage points to 75.3%, suggesting that the 'TextHip' phenomenon – which promotes reading in innovative and engaging ways such as book exchanges and themed literary events – might be influencing this demographic positively. In stark contrast, reading rates among those in their 50s fell dramatically by 10 percentage points to 26.9%, while 40s also perceived a significant drop of 6.9 percentage points to 41.0%, pointing towards a growing gap in reading habits among different age groups.

Additionally, the rise in audiobook consumption across age groups under 50 is noteworthy, especially among the youth where audiobook reading increased by 4.0 percentage points to 10.9%. Meanwhile, e-book readership has declined across most demographics except for the 20s, who experienced a slight increase, achieving a 59.4% e-book reading rate. Overall, the declining general reading rates alongside a brief surge in younger readers indicate a potential shift in how literature is consumed in South Korea, posing implications for future cultural policies and book publishing.