Reconnecting with Books in Seoul
I came to Korea University since it was one of the best programs through my home university for my English and creative writing major. However, being away from home for so long has made me miss my literary collection. One of my favorite things to do when exploring new places is finding the bookstores there. South Korea has loads of unique bookstores, from chain bookstores like ARC Books to small, independent bookstores with history and character like Daeo Bookstore.
Kyobo Bookstore
One of the classes I took at Korea University this semester was Intermediate II Korean. On the very first day of class, my professor said one of the best ways to learn a language was to read a book in that language and, while reading it, listen to the audio-book version of it simultaneously. That way, you’re getting both visual and audio immersion, passively and actively engaging with the language. As an avid reader, any excuse to visit a bookstore was one I would take. And, if it helped me learn more of the language and be able to read a fun story at the same time, even better!
One of the books recommended to me by my Korean professor was 고미호 식당. I was able to find it at Kyobo Bookstore, my favorite bookstore in Seoul. I stumbled upon the store in Gwanghwamun across from the Seongbo-gu Immigration Office (where I applied and received my alien registration card). Most bookstores I’ve explored in Seoul have a tiny English book section, but Kyobo probably contained the most extensive English book section of any bookstore I’d seen thus far. An interesting trend I noticed at Kyobo compared to, for instance, ARC Books was that the majority of English novels in Kyobo were translated from Russian or especially Japanese. Many popular mainstream novels from America, such as Twilight, Harry Potter, etc., are translated into English at these bookstores—even the unique edition versions. Ever wanted the house edition of Harry Potter but didn’t want to spend the money to ship it from the U.K.? You’ll find it in Korea easily!
The Oldest Bookstore in Seoul, Daeo
While traveling between subway lines, I’ve discovered mini-bookstores thrown together within the subway stations that possess a variety of Korean novels. These smaller, independent stalls and sections of bookstores tend to have Korean books only and no foreign translations available. Another case was when I went to Daeo Bookstore with my best friend and her roommate: All the books there were antique or Korean written only. Despite hosting an extensive collection of novels, Daeo was more of a café and museum than a bookstore. Many monuments and architectural features were frozen in time to display the history and significance of the first bookstore in Seoul. If you looked hard enough, you could find where idol IU and RM from BTS had signed and visited the store.
A Surprise Discovery in Busan
In Busan, I discovered through browsing the various tourist map guides of monuments and sites a library called the Library of Mystery Literature. It specializes in mystery novels such as Sherlock Holmes or Edgar Allan Poe. I didn’t realize until I got there that IU and actress Yoo In-na had visited this library together in the past. I enjoyed exploring its various floors, eating morning toast, and talking to the very kind gentlemen working there.
Finally
Even if you’re not an avid reader like I am, visiting a bookstore in Seoul is still a fantastic experience. More often than not, they’re not just bookstores but a massive collection of cute stores, shops, and cafés! They’re also a fun way to find more unique stops in easy-to-overlook tourist pamphlets.
Maybe try peeking into one here and there. Who knows? You might be surprised by what you find!
Emma Gullen, University of Iowa, is studying abroad in South Korea with TEAN.
