Is reading really hip in Korea? Or is it just the goods?

Book-related events and merchandise are booming in Korea. Book fairs are drawing huge crowds, publishers' limited-edition goods are selling out, and the latest viral craze is, of all things, a pastry. Yet at the same time, the country's adult reading rate is falling sharply. The contradiction has prompted a growing debate: Is Korea's newfound enthusiasm for book culture getting more people to read, or simply turning literature into another lifestyle accessory? Among younger Koreans, visiting boo