Bookstore highlights special side of ordinary people

Inside chocolate bookstore is a huge table with eight seats for social gathering. / Korea Times photo by Jung Hae-myoung

By Jung Hae-myoung

Lee is selective when it comes to books. She handpicks the books for her bookstore. “If there is any criteria for selecting books, the first and foremost condition is I have to like it, want to read it, or they must be from my favorite authors,” she said. She feels proud of opening a bookstore where the customers trust her selections.

“I think finding the identity of this bookstore is very similar to finding my own identity. Opening the bookstore, I am showing part of me. I sometimes feel this place is myself, and I am this space,” she said.

“But that is same for all human beings. It is hard to define just one fixed characteristic,” she added. The biggest reward for Lee is getting to know the extraordinary side of ordinary people, like finding hidden gems.

“Running this bookstore, I meet many people and among them are those with great potential,” she said. “Just recognizing this potential within people is a good enough reason for me to run this bookstore,” she said.

Lee said that she initially wanted to invite famous people to her bookstore for a seminar. Kim Young-ha, one of the best-selling authors in Korea, was one of the candidates because he lives nearby.

“At first I thought 'why wouldn't he come here when he lives around this area?' But then I realized that I didn't want to take the easy route,” she said. “I am kind of rebellious, so I prefer to take the path less taken,” she added.

She said she realized that there are many people who are not famous but have greatness inside.

Picture books are made by members of the book drawing club run by chocolate bookstore./ Korea Times photo by Jung Hae-myoung

In July she hosted a seminar series consisting of four topics in the bookstore and met people full of energy and passion. She said they inspired her to have a different perspective toward the world.

“The lecturers were all great. One of the lecturers was the founder of a publishing house and he passionately talked about his life. He was an energetic speaker, although he was old. His speech lasted for three hours without a break. I began to admire him for his passion,” she said.

“Kang Byoung-yoong, the author of 'Sentences Walking around the City,' also gave a lecture here, and listening to his journey of teaching in Slovenia was fascinating,” she said. “For me I always felt that I didn't have confidence about being Korean, but he convinced me why we should feel proud of our nationality,” she added.

In addition to special lectures, she runs two book clubs on Wednesday and Saturday. For Wednesday the meeting is in the morning, so many mothers come there to exchange their views about certain books of their choice.

“Because there are several full-time housewives, they usually talk about education and how to live as community members,” Lee said. “At first I thought they would talk about their husbands, but I was wrong. The subject of conversation is diverse,” she added.

Another gathering is dedicated to making picture books, which also attracts people with different backgrounds. Some people come to make books for their children, and some people come to feel a sense of accomplishment that they cannot feel in their daily lives. Others are art majors who come to this group to draw freely without any preconditions.

Although she seems to be leading a life that others are jealous of, she said there are challenges she is facing.

“I think all small book keepers will say the same. Running a sustainable bookstore is a common problem for all bookshop owners. It all comes down to money,” she said.

“When you think of this job as a way to make money, I would say don't even start,” she said firmly. “I know running bookstore and cafe is a dream life for many young people, but they must realize the tough reality and think deeply before they start,” she added.

She also emphasized the exact goal and reason for running the bookstore. “They should know exactly why they are doing this. They should know whether they are opening the store for money, self-satisfaction or accomplishment, or meeting different people through this place,” she said. Such goal-oriented thoughts will lead them to their goal and check whether they are going the right way.

For Lee, she said she wanted the store to be a place for gatherings. “I think I am somehow near to the goal that I set,” she said. “My bookstore does not welcome anyone, but those who come here have some specific tastes that are similar to mine. I wanted these people to gather here and make synergy,”

Books are carefully handpicked by Lee. She selects books that she likes or that she wants to read, and those written by her favorite authors./ Korea Times photo by Jung Hae-myoung

Another motivation that leads Lee to run the bookstore is her love of books.

“I just love being around the books, I can bear everything just for the sake of books,” she said, caressing the book she was holding and saying she just loved the words, the cover, the book itself.

She has been writing her own book for years. “I have been writing fiction for a long time. I haven't made my debut yet, but it is always on my mind. When asked what kind of book she was writing, she shyly said “you will see when it is published.”

Her current favorite book she said is “The Mirror Visitors” by Christelle Dabos. She boldly commented Dabos could be the next Ursula Leguin. As a matching chocolate she recommended a white chocolate with berries and pistachios, saying the book contains such diversity and taste.