As far as I understand, Talmud was sold as a distillation of "Jewish wisdom" that raises smart kids, and Koreans are really crazy about raising smart kids, and

As far as I understand, Talmud was sold as a distillation of "Jewish wisdom" that raises smart kids, and Koreans are really crazy about raising smart kids, and somehow the marketing stuck. There may be other aspects to it but I think this is the biggest factor. But then again, books purporting to teach you how to live your own life have always enjoyed a steady demand in Korea, and Talmud (at least as seen in Korea) fits the mold very well.