Popular Author Indicted for Stockpiling 1,600 Copies to Boost Bestseller Ranking

An author who stockpiled copies of his own book to climb bestseller lists, along with a publishing official who assisted him, has been indicted.

The Goyang Branch of the Uijeongbu District Prosecutors' Office announced today (September 9) that it has indicted without detention a man in his 40s surnamed Lee, an author, and a publishing company representative in his 50s on charges of violating the Publication Culture Industry Promotion Act.

The two are accused of stockpiling 1,631 copies of Lee's newly published book between March and July 2024 to boost its sales volume.

Investigations revealed that they committed the crime believing that entering bestseller rankings through book stockpiling would yield greater promotional effects than spending money on advertisements.

During the crime period, total sales for the book in question reached 11,135 copies, with the stockpiled books accounting for 1,631 copies, or 14 percent of the total.

Consequently, it was found that the book's ranking on the "weekly bestseller list by category" rose from the 3rd and 4th ranks to the 2nd and 3rd ranks.

The two became acquainted while publishing other books in the past, and it was reported that A's publishing company had no relation to the book targeted for stockpiling.

(Photo provided by the Goyang Branch of the Uijeongbu District Prosecutors' Office, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.