Reading declines again in Korea, but 20-somethings show rebound

Young adults in their 20s prefer digital reading, with 59.4 percent reading e-books, higher than the 45.1 percent who read printed books. Audiobooks are also becoming popular for people under 60. Adults increasingly say they read for enjoyment (20.3 percent) or self-improvement (18.5 percent), showing a shift from earlier surveys where knowledge and information were the main reasons.

Among students, the most common reason for reading is academic needs (30 percent), followed by enjoyment (28.3 percent). The main barrier to reading for both adults and students is lack of time due to work or school. Time spent on other media also reduces reading, with 24.3 percent of adults and 19.1 percent of students citing it as an obstacle.

The survey shows large differences in reading by age and income. Only 14.4 percent of people aged 60 and older read at least one book a year, compared to 75.3 percent of those in their 20s. Similarly, people earning less than 2 million won per month read much less (13.4 percent) than those earning over 5 million won (56.1 percent), indicating persistent gaps in reading habits.

Edited using generative AI tools.
Source :https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10688742

Comprehension

What percentage of people in their 20s read e-books?
What is the main reason adults read now compared to previous surveys?
What is the main reason students read books?
What is the biggest barrier to reading for both adults and students?
How does reading differ by age and income?

Discussion

Why do you think young adults in their 20s are reading more e-books than printed books?
How do audiobooks change the way people enjoy reading?
Why is reading for enjoyment becoming more popular among adults?
How can schools encourage students to read more for fun, not just for academics?
What strategies could adults use to overcome the lack of time as a barrier to reading?
How do income and age affect people’s reading habits?
Do you think digital reading (e-books and audiobooks) will eventually replace printed books? Why or why not?
How can society promote reading as a habit for people of all ages?

Vocabulary

E-book – a book that is read on a computer, tablet, or phone
Audiobook – a book that is recorded and listened to instead of read
Barrier – something that makes it hard to do something
Disparities – big differences between groups
Enjoyment – the feeling of having fun or pleasure