Abstract

This study compares the members of children's reading and culture movement organization versus general public and their children with the aim of understanding how parents' reading activities affect children's reading activities. The study surveyed 477 elementary school students and 483 parents from five special metropolitan cities regarding their reading behaviour. Reading behavior was investigated in terms of reading frequency, book selection information source, reading awareness, and preferred books, and it was confirmed that there was a difference between members of children's reading and culture movement organization and children of the general public. Members of children's reading and culture movement organization and their children showed superior reading habits in terms of both quantity and quality than non-members and their children, and the book selection information service was used. In terms of perception regarding reading, children's reading and culture movement organization members and their children found more "joy" in reading than "help in learning" as compared to the general public and their children. In terms of reading preference, children's reading and culture movement organization members and their children intensively preferred Korean creative fairy tales and picture books while the general public and their children preferred Korean creative fairy tales, picture books, and educational comics. In order to create a healthier reading culture and environment for the long term, the development of more active reading participation methods for the general public is required.