Swipe 'The Great Gatsby' for subway ride

World Classics with transport cards. Courtesy of Kyobo Book Center

By Jung Hae-myoung

Classic books with pre-paid transport cards have gone on sale. The so-called Metro books have two apparent purposes: reading books and swiping them when using subways or buses.

The five titles include “The Old Man and the Sea”, “Demian,” “1984,” "No Longer Human," and “The Great Gatsby.”

Kyobo Bookstore is marketing them as part of its anniversary celebrations.

George Orwell's '1984' made into metro book. Courtesy of Kyobo Book Center

The Metro book campaign was started by publishing company 'L& PM Editores in 2015.

The card inside should be charged in advance, and the card user can get 30 percent discount at designated coffee shops, cinemas and convenience stores.

The books cost 9,800 won each.