dbBOOKS warehouse offers Korea's best hunting grounds for literature lovers

People shop for books in one room of the dbBOOKS warehouse in eastern Seoul, Nov. 9, 2024. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar

The best party in Seoul this weekend won't be in a nightclub — it'll be at the underground warehouse of dbBOOKS, an importer, distributor and retailer of books published in English.

Twice a year, dbBOOKS invites readers into its warehouse for the Welcome to Our Warehouse (WOW) Family Sale.

"What makes the Warehouse Sale/dbBOOKS special to me is the incredible assortment of foreign books to choose from and it is very affordable too," said Daniela, 30, from Austria. "Although you can order online anytime of the year, going to the warehouse sale is a very fun experience, as you can roam through countless shelves and 'hunt' for long awaited reads or discover new ones."

The warehouse offers hundreds of thousands of titles across fiction and nonfiction for readers of all ages, as well as a section dedicated to Korean literature in translation and by Korean authors writing in English.

"I love Korean literature. I think the more commercial work can really tap into the anxieties of what it is like to be in a society in flux, of young people trying to balance tradition and modern living," said Addie, 29, an English teacher.

"A lot of Korean literature is about identity, something you can feel the country has been grappling with due to all the political instabilities over the country's short life. Also how nice it would be to escape the hustle of work to live simply, which as someone who does work in Korea, is a wonderful way of escaping the work culture."

As social media helps spread literature-related content, many people have found a renewed passion for reading.

"Through social media, reading has found a new, accessible and unique way for people to share a hobby with others and connect over it," Daniela said. "It used to be a very introverted pastime, with usually no way to share your thoughts with someone. With BookTube, Bookstagram and BookTok, this changed drastically and it made the book publishing industry very lucrative again as more people realized the benefits of reading. I personally think it is a good thing how reading became so popular as it is a way to learn, to be creative, to relax and to grow as a person in various ways."

Addie agreed on the benefits of reading for education as well as mental health.

"Education can make reading feel like a chore, so it’s great to see many people who would have stopped reading after school pick it back up," she said. "Reading is so important and I personally feel that any reading, from manhwa to classic novels, is important for our mental health, and it really is bringing people together. In the post-pandemic and current loneliness epidemic, it is such a joy to just come together with a group of people and read, share ideas and give recommendations."

Mirinae Lee, second from right, participates in a book talk on her 2023 novel "Eight Lives of a Century-old Trickster" on the roof of the SK Techno Building in eastern Seoul, May 24. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar

Various events are offered on Saturday and Sunday for book hunters.

On Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., graphic novel creators Kim Hyun Sook and Ryan Estrada will run an interactive exhibition for "Good Old-Fashioned Korean Spirit," the latest title in their "Banned Book Club" series.

From 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Seoul Silent Book Club will hold a meeting, inviting anyone to participate in an hour of quiet reading on the roof of the building.

At 3 p.m., sci-fi author Bora Chung will speak at a book talk celebrating the release of her latest title, "Midnight Timetable: A Novel in Ghost Stories." It will be moderated by Cari, the host of BookTube channel cari can read.

On Sunday, Cari will host a book swap event from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The warehouse is in the basement of the SK Techno Building, a short walk from Exit 5 of Ttukseom Station on Seoul Metro Line 2. Free parking is available.

Customers can request delivery on-site for 5,000 won. Visit dbbooks.com for information in English, and tongbangbooks.com in Korean, or follow @dbbooks.co.kr on Instagram.