[Insta Walk] Seoul Chaekbogo - A Space Where Used Books Become Treasures

Korea's First Public Used Bookstore
Consignment Sales at 29 Locations Including Dong-A and Dongsin Bookstores
Archway Corridor with a Warehouse Atmosphere
From Donated Old Books to Nostalgic Comics
Famous as Hotel Del Luna Filming Location... Featured on Overseas Travel Sites from China and Japan

[Asia Economy Reporter Shinwon Yoon] A used bookstore has settled between the Han River and a large apartment complex. It is Korea's first public secondhand bookstore and serves as a library or community room for local residents. 'Seoul Chaekbogo,' meaning 'a space where books become treasures,' is the place to take a walk this time. It is a place with many attractions, frequently visited by book lovers, and its unique exterior draws attention even from those who are not fond of books.

When visiting Seoul Chaekbogo at 2 p.m. on the 7th, the atmosphere was calm and quiet. It seemed to be a weekday afternoon when outings had significantly decreased due to the spread of COVID-19. The sound of pages turning by those who freely chose their seats and books could be heard clearly.

If you step into this place for the first time, you might feel like you are in a logistics warehouse. This is because it was remodeled from an old Amway logistics warehouse. The total area is 1465㎡. Upon entering, you face a space divided left and right. On the left are bookshelves densely packed with used books, and on the right is a space for independent publications and a stage, serving as a cultural area. The bookshelf holding 130,000 used books is different from a typical bookstore. The arch-shaped tunnel-like passage resembles a winding tunnel, symbolizing a bookworm burrowing into books. The shelving method is even more unique. Unlike general bookstores organized alphabetically by genre, the books are categorized by bookstore names such as Green Books, Geulbeot Bookstore, and Book Department Store. Still, it is not difficult to find the desired book using the book search terminal.

The reason for organizing the shelves this way is related to the background of Seoul Chaekbogo's creation. The Seoul Metropolitan Government opened it in March last year with the intention of providing citizens with a space to enjoy reading while also revitalizing small secondhand bookstores that had lost their place due to competition from large bookstores and online bookstores. The used books exhibited and sold here are consigned by 29 secondhand bookstores, including Dong-A Bookstore and Dongsin Seorim, which have preserved the Cheonggyecheon used bookstore street. This created an additional sales channel alongside their stores in the Cheonggyecheon used bookstore street. There is also the intention to incorporate the know-how of bookstore owners who have operated secondhand bookstores for decades into the shelves.

Under a bookshelf densely packed with comic books, an elementary school student reading with a serious face caught the eye. This student, attending an elementary school in Jamsil, said they often come to read books after school. In front of them, a couple from Taiwan was taking pictures of each other. This is due to the location being known as a filming site for the tvN drama 'Hotel Del Luna' aired last year, which became popular and turned into a spot for Instagrammers to take certification photos. The Taiwanese tourist, a passionate fan of IU, said, "The scenes in the drama were beautiful, so I wanted to visit here and made time for it," showing an excited expression. Foreign tourists visiting a used bookstore mostly filled with Korean books?this confirmed the power of K-dramas once again. It is also introduced as a 'must-visit place in Seoul travel' on travel sites from China, Japan, Taiwan, and other countries.

On both sides of the circular bookshelf are donated books. A sign reading 'Books Donated by Professors Sangjin Han and Younghee Shim' stands out. This is a collection of about 10,000 books cherished like their own by Professor Sangjin Han, Professor Emeritus at Seoul National University, and Professor Younghee Shim of Hanyang University Law School. They donated these books with the intention of giving back to society some of the benefits they received from it. These books cannot be purchased but are available for reading only.

To the right of the entrance is the independent publication library. You can freely browse about 2,000 independent publications ranging from out-of-print books to the latest releases. Although not for sale, many independent publications have unique designs that make them fun to explore, blurring the line between books and art. Desks and chairs are arranged in front of the shelves, providing a space where citizens can freely read books.

Among the independent publications, you can see the Blind Book shelves. These are random boxes recommending books based on a few keywords or phrases. On the boxes wrapped in opaque paper, small notes with intriguing phrases are attached. Among them, a note saying "Why did cheese decide to do heroic deeds in France?" caught my attention. Fascinated by the three words cheese, France, and hero, I ended up purchasing it for 13,500 won. I wondered if I had ever been this excited buying a book. Upon opening the box, it contained Nicolas Halasz's 'I Accuse,' Guy de Maupassant's 'Maupassant Short Stories,' and Gustave Flaubert's 'Salammb?.' If you find it difficult to choose a book, I recommend trying a Blind Book.

At the end of the bookstore is a small stage. It is a space where performances and bazaars are held, and various cultural programs based on books take place. Recently, author Jo Jung-rae and gayageum player Jung Mina held a book concert here. Monthly cultural programs can be checked on the official Seoul Chaekbogo website.