Children and teenagers from better-off households read more library books and begin using librbaries earlier than those from less affluent families, according to a report by the Korea Institute of Child Care and Education.
Monthly reading through libraries averaged 11.8 books among those in the highest household income category, compared with 6.4 in the middle category and 4.7 in the lowest — a roughly 2.5-fold gap between the top and bottom groups.
The government-affiliated institute drew on the National Library for Children and Young Adults’ 2025 survey of 1,500 children and teenagers aged 3-18.
The income categories reflected respondents’ subjective assessments of their households’ financial circumstances rather than fixed income thresholds.
The figures concern reading through libraries, rather than total reading across all sources.
The gap extended to when children first encountered libraries. Those in the highest income category began using them at an average age of 5.8, compared with 6.9 for the middle group and 8.4 for the lowest.
Enjoyment of reading also differed. On a 100-point scale measuring reading preference, the highest income group scored 63.7, followed by 59.2 for the middle group and 49.1 for the lowest.
Reading through libraries also varied by a parent’s or guardian’s occupation.
The monthly average was 12.3 books in the homemaker category, compared with 9.4 in professional occupations and 9.2 in office or managerial jobs.
The comparisons show differences between groups, rather than establishing that household income or a caregiver’s occupation caused children to read more.
The researchers called for stronger local reading infrastructure, improved access for underserved communities and greater support for parents and caregivers to help young children engage with books.
minsikyoon@heraldcorp.com
