How many books about poop are there in your country?

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A search for the word "poop" (ddong) on the website of Kyobo Book Centre, South Korea’s largest bookstore chain, yields a staggering 3,000-plus related titles filling the screen. From creative picture books by domestic authors to popular translated international editions, books themed around excrement have formed a massive literary genre of their own.

Why are children so fascinated by this topic, and why does the publishing industry remain so hyper-focused on it? Rather than pointing to a single cause, experts analyze this phenomenon as a multifaceted cultural trend where market demand, child psychology, and publishing aesthetics converge.

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🔎 3 Core Drivers Behind the "Poop" Publishing Phenomenon

1. The "Anal Stage" Psychology and Explosive Market Demand

According to child psychology and Freudian theory, children between the ages of 1 and 3 go through the "anal stage." During this period, children feel a deep sense of liberation and accomplishment from the fact that their bodies produced something.

• Psychological Liberation: Children experience a rush of catharsis when they boldly say the word "poop"—a topic adults usually hide or dismiss as dirty.
• The Ultimate Cheat Code: In the publishing industry, "poop" is a guaranteed hit that instantly makes children laugh. This rock-solid target audience (toddlers to early elementary students) ensures a continuous stream of new ideas and publications.

2. Evolution into "Integrated Knowledge Content"

Moving far beyond the practical toilet-training guides of the past, modern books on this topic have evolved into "convergent knowledge books" spanning science, history, and the environment.

• Science and Ecology: Ecological fairy tales that teach children about food chains and natural cycles through animal droppings are highly popular.
• History and Culture: Books approaching the subject through a humanities lens—such as the history of traditional Korean outhouses or how waste was utilized as fertilizer—are widely consumed as educational literature.

💡 The Hidden Enablers: Parents Opening Their Wallets

No matter how much children love a topic, the final purchasing power lies with the parents. Experts note that parents willingly buy these books to foster an emotional bond with reading. Instead of forcing children to read dry material, parents strategically use their children's favorite subject to help them naturally discover the joy of books.

Far from being a mere waste product, "poop" has become a powerful tool that sparks children's imaginations and teaches the cycles of life. This phenomenon in South Korean bookstores goes beyond a passing fad, cementing itself as a distinct educational and cultural staple that is here to stay.