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Dasi Book Store, literally meaning "book store again," in Itaewon, Seoul, turns into a bar and offers |
By Park Jin-hai
As more people turn to electronic devices for reading instead of paper books, many neighborhood bookstores are vanishing. Despite this trend, small, independent bookstores with unique concepts, as opposed to major bookstore chains, are emerging as hot places to go.
While figures show that local bookstore numbers fell more than 70 percent over the past two decades, small, concept bookstores, armed with genre books, books by independent publishers and with strong local communities, are increasing.
In August, Choi In-a, former vice president of Cheil Worldwide, a major advertising company, opened a bookstore bearing her name in Yeoksam, southern Seoul. Her store, in one of Korea's most expensive districts, is more like a library than a bookstore, with some 6,000 books. It also holds book talks and mini-concerts.
Popular comedian and TV personality Ro Hong-chul has opened a small independent bookstore in Yongsan. It sells books his celebrity friends recommend and Ro serves customers drinks and talks with fans.
Indie musician Yozoh and poet Yoo Hee-kyung have also joined the ranks of small bookstore owners.
"Many people working in the cultural industry, after paying attention to the coffee, wine and music industries, are now eyeing the bookstore business," said Jeong Eun-suk, from publishing company Maumsancheak, who had run a small bookstore. "When my friends and I meet, we suggest our own ideas of a themed bookstore. Searching online, we often find that those same concept bookstores already exist. I think the hottest cultural trend these days are those unique bookstores."
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| Wit N Cynical run by poet Yoo Hee-kyung in Sinchon, western Seoul, specializes in poems. It is a bookstore, a cafe and a record store as it sells old LP records. / Korea Times photo by Shin Sang-soon |
Along with the celebrities, many people have opened genre bookstores specializing in travel books, science books and thriller novels. Others sell special experiences with the books.
Dasi Book Store, literally meaning "bookstore again," in Itaewon, turns into a bar, offering beer with books in the evening, while Booktique holds book-night events, where participants spend the whole night reading. Wit N Cynical, run by poet Yoo Hee-kyung in Sinchon, specializes in poems. It has mixed the concept of a bookstore, cafe and record store, selling old vinyl records.
Thanks to this new trend, small concept bookstores have been thriving as opposed to the big bookstores here that have decreased to 1,559 from 1,625 in 2013. This year alone, some 100 small stores, including nearly 60 in Seoul, have opened.
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| Goyo Bookstore in Haebangchon, Seoul, frequently organizes events where people can read and enjoy wine at the same time. / Korea Times photo by Shin Sang-soon |
Internet blogs are brimming with photos of people at the trendy stores. Through social network services, people from various backgrounds are meeting for the first time and talking about their favorite books, creating a small social community.
"SNS connects new visitors and frequent visitors. More people are coming here, not as one-time guests, but as frequent visitors," said Cha Kyung-hee, owner of Goyo Bookstore, which frequently organizes events where people can read and enjoy wine at the same time.
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