SKY students are reading up on fairness and fantasy

K-campus

Published: 31 Jan. 2023, 18:32 Updated: 03 Mar. 2023, 18:23

SKY students are reading up on fairness and fantasy

Students study inside Kwanjeong Library at Seoul National University in southern Seoul. [JOONGANG PHOTO]

Books about justice and fairness were borrowed the most from the libraries of Korea's top three universities last year, with Korean fiction also proving popular.

“The Tyranny of Merit: What's Become of the Common Good?” by Michael J. Sandel was the most-borrowed book at both Seoul National University and Korea University, according to data from each school.

The book, published in December 2020, questions whether meritocracy provides equal opportunities for everyone and challenges its validity. It has become known as the ultimate liberal arts book to refer to.

The book also ranked second on Yonsei University's list.

Seoul National University, Yonsei University and Korea University are perceived as the three most prestigious schools in Korea, often referred to with the acronym “S.K.Y.”

"The most-borrowed books at university libraries show the preferences of people in their twenties because users tend to be within a small age gap, as opposed to the wider age gap seen in public library users," said Lee Yong-hun, a library culture critic.

“The Tyranny of Merit: What's Become of the Common Good?” ranking high on the list shows that "students are interested in the topic of justice," Lee said.

Six Korean fiction books made it on to the top ten most-borrowed book list at Seoul National University, with five Korean fiction books making the list at both Yonsei and Korea University.

At Yonsei University, Lee Mi-ye's fantasy novel “DollarGut Dream Department Store” ranked first. The book's sequel, “DollarGut Dream Department Store 2,” ranked seventh.

“If We Cannot Move at the Speed of Light”, a science fiction novel by Kim Cho-yeop, appeared on the most-borrowed lists at all three S.K.Y. universities.

The book was also most borrowed by people in their twenties at public libraries between September 2019 and August last year, according to the National Library of Korea.

“Many of the Korean fiction books on the list are similar to the ones on the bestsellers list,” said book critic Jang Dong-seok. “This is because Korean novels are being perceived as approachable, easy to read and relatable for university students and becoming favored among young people."

Although similar books appear on the most-borrowed list of the three universities, there are some books that only appear on one university list.

Michael J. Sandel's “Justice”, published in 2014, only made the list at Seoul National University, ranking eighth in 2022. The book's popularity is ongoing among the school's students, topping the most-borrowed list in 2020.

Yonsei University's list includes "Christianity, Question and Response," ranking 10th.

“The book ‘Christianity, Question and Response’ that ranked 10th place on the list is designated as recommended reading material for the school's religion courses," said a spokesperson for Yonsei University Library. "The high ranking seems due to many students having checked out this particular book to prepare for their classes."

At Korea University, two English-American books, “Pachinko” by Lee Min-jin, a Korean American writer, and “The Midnight Library” by Matt Haig, came in third and fifth place on the list.